Management of Familial Hemochromatosis

MISCONCEPTIONS concerning the diagnosis, treatment and pathogenesis of hemochromatosis exist in the literature. Some authors1 , 2 believe that the concomitant increase of iron in the reticuloendothelial tissues makes bone-marrow examination a reliable screening test. Others3 , 4 emphasize the value of serum iron and iron-binding protein saturation in the diagnosis of hemochromatosis. It will be shown, however, that liver biopsy and examination of liver parenchymal cells for iron content provide the only reliable way to exclude the diagnosis of hemochromatosis. Excess iron in the tissues of hemochromatotic patients has been blamed for eventual failure of multiple organ functions.1 , 5 , 6 Repeated venesection has been recommended . . .