[Physical work capacity studied by measured physical loading in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis]

A significant decrease of work fitness was revealed in 23 patients with verified diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis exposed to graded physical exercise. It is assumed that the decrease of exercise tolerance in these patients may be most possibly accounted for by the lowering of myocardial contractility as a result of its injury due to iron overload. It is not excluded, however, that nonspecific dystrophic processes determined by diabetes mellitus, liver damage and coronary atherosclerosis in some cases may develop.