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C ASE R EPORT : Effect of venesection on bone mineral density in an eugonadal woman with haemochromatosis
Author(s) -
Hibbert EJ,
Fulcher GR,
Coyle L,
Gates F,
CliftonBligh P,
Stiel D
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.1999.01833.x
Subject(s) - medicine , osteopenia , bone mineral , densitometry , bone density , osteoporosis , hemochromatosis , liver biopsy , femur , lumbar vertebrae , gastroenterology , surgery , biopsy , lumbar
Background : A 41‐year‐old premenopausal woman with newly diagnosed haemochromatosis was found to have osteopenia on screening bone mineral densitometry. Methods and Results : Liver biopsy showed grade 3 haemochromatosis with an hepatic iron index of 4. Investigation for secondary factors for osteopenia revealed no cause. The patient was clinically and biochemically eugonadal. Following venesection of 8 L blood (4 g iron) over 17 months and calcium supplementation, her bone density rose significantly. Neck of femur bone density increased by 6.0% over 13 months and lumbar vertebral bone density increased by 7.2%. There are no previous reports of response of bone density to venesection in eugonadal patients or in women with haemochromatosis.