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Appropriate Clinical Genetic Testing of Hemochromatosis Type 2-4, Including Ferroportin Disease
Devan S Kowdley1, Kris V Kowdley1
1Liver Institute Northwest and Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, Seattle, WA, USA.
Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited iron overload disorder due to a deficiency of hepcidin, or a failure of hepcidin to degrade ferroportin. The most common form of HH, Type 1 HH, is most commonly due to a homozygous C282Y mutation in HFE and is relatively well understood in significance and action; however, other rare forms of HH (Types 2-4) exist and are more difficult to identify and diagnose in clinical practice. In this review, we describe the clinical characteristics of HH Type 2-4 and the mutation patterns that have been described in these conditions. We also review the different methods for genetic testing available in clinical practice and a pragmatic approach to the patient with suspected non-HFE HH.
Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an inherited iron overload disorder due to a deficiency of hepcidin, or a failure of hepcidin to degrade ferroportin. The most common form of HH, Type 1 HH, is most commonly due to a homozygous C282Y mutation in HFE and is relatively well understood in significance and action; however, other rare forms of HH (Types 2-4) exist and are more difficult to identify and diagnose in clinical practice. In this review, we describe the clinical characteristics of HH Type 2-4 and the mutation patterns that have been described in these conditions. We also review the different methods for genetic testing available in clinical practice and a pragmatic approach to the patient with suspected non-HFE HH.
