[Iron metabolism in hereditary hemochromatosis]

The characteristic features of iron metabolism in hereditary hemochromatosis are described. The patients showed an increase of serum iron, iron saturation of transferrin as well as serum ferritin and erythrocytes. Results of determination of isoferritins of the splenic and cardiac types revealed a biochemical heterogeneity of hereditary hemochromatosis. Methods of differential diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis, secondary hemochromatosis and chronic diseases of the liver are described.