Patient-reported outcomes and their relation with iron parameters in HFE haemochromatosis during maintenance therapy:...

The standard of care for haemochromatosis is regular phlebotomy in order to maintain low ferritin levels. Many patients report fatigue or joint pain despite serum ferritin within the therapeutic targets. We evaluated Patient-Reported Outcomes, and their relation with iron parameters, in C282Y homozygous patients undergoing maintenance phlebotomy.

Patients were prospectively enrolled in a French referral care centre. At each phlebotomy, patients completed a numeric fatigue scale, a joint pain questionnaire and SF-36 Mental Component Score (MCS) and Physical Component Score (PCS). Haemoglobin, iron, TS and ferritin were collected concomitantly.

About 701 visits were performed in 259 patients. The median fatigue score was 3/10; 171 (66%) patients reported joint pain. Age and worsening of joint pain were associated with fatigue (p < .0001 for both). Female gender (p < .037), age (p < .003), and a decrease of TS (p = .050) were associated with joint pain. Main features associated with PCS <50 were worsening of joint pain and age (p < .001 for both) and TS <20% (p < .02).

Fatigue was independent from iron parameters. The main factor impacting quality of life was joint pain, which was more severe in patients with low TS values. Then, a more precise monitoring of TS should be proposed during haemochromatosis maintenance therapy; while less stringent monitoring of serum ferritin levels could be tested.