Diagnostic evaluation of hereditary hemochromatosis (HFE and non-HFE)

Edouard Bardou-Jacquet1, Pierre Brissot1

  • 1CHU Rennes, French Reference Center for Rare Iron Overload Diseases of Genetic Origin, 2 rue Henri le guilloux, F-35033 Rennes, France; INSERM, UMR 991, 2 rue Henri le guilloux, F-35000 Rennes, France; CHU Rennes, Liver disease department, 2 rue Henri le guilloux, F-35033 Rennes, France.

The management and understanding of hereditary hemochromatosis have evolved with recent advances in iron biology and the associated discovery of numerous genes involved in iron metabolism. HFE-related (type 1) hemochromatosis remains the most frequent form, characterized by C282Y mutation homozygosity. Rare forms of hereditary hemochromatosis include type 2 (A and B, juvenile hemochromatosis caused by HJV and HAMP mutation), type 3 (related to TFR2 mutation), and type 4 (A and B, ferroportin disease). The diagnostic evaluation relies on comprehension of the involved pathophysiologic defect, and careful characterization of the phenotype, which gives clues to guide appropriate genetic testing.

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