Premium
Iron overload in chinese patients with hemoglobin H disease
Author(s) -
Hsu HuiChi,
Lin ChungKing,
Tsay ShyhHaw,
Tse Elizabeth,
Ho ChaoHung,
Chow MoPing,
Yung ChienHui,
Peng HongWen
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.2830340410
Subject(s) - medicine , gastroenterology , transferrin saturation , liver biopsy , ferritin , chelation therapy , hemoglobin , hemochromatosis , siderosis , serum iron , disease , anemia , biopsy , surgery , thalassemia , serum ferritin
We examined the iron status of 23 adult patients with hemoglobin H (Hb H) disease. None of them had received multiple blood transfusions or prolonged iron therapy. Studies included serum iron and ferritin concentrations, transferrin saturation, a desferrioxamine test, computed tomography (CT) scan of the liver, and liver biopsy. Iron overload was found in 17 patients (73.9%), especially in males and in patients with splenomegaly (92.9% and 100%, respectively). Four patients with excessive alcohol consumption had clinical manifestations of severe iron overload. Idiopathic hemochromatosis associated HLA antigens, i.e., HLA‐A 3 , ‐B 7 , or ‐B 14 , were not found in any of the 15 patients tested. These findings indicate that iron overload is common in adult patients with Hb H disease; such patients should abstain from alcohol and be considered for treatment with an iron chelating agent before irreversible organ damage occurs.