Semin Liver Dis 2011; 31(3): 302-318
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286061
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Non-HFE Hepatic Iron Overload

Antonello Pietrangelo1 , Angela Caleffi1 , Elena Corradini1
  • 1Division of Internal Medicine 2 and Center for Hemochromatosis, “Mario Coppo” Liver Research Center, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
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Publication History

Publication Date:
07 September 2011 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Numerous clinical entities have now been identified to cause pathologic iron accumulation in the liver. Some are well described and have a verified hereditary basis; in others the genetic basis is still speculative, while in several cases nongenetic iron-loading factors are apparent. The non-HFE hemochromatosis syndromes identifies a subgroup of hereditary iron loading disorders that share with classic HFE-hemochromatosis, the autosomal recessive trait, the pathogenic basis (i.e., lack of hepcidin synthesis or activity), and key clinical features. Yet, they are caused by pathogenic mutations in other genes, such as transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2), hepcidin (HAMP), hemojuvelin (HJV), and ferroportin (FPN), and, unlike HFE-hemochromatosis, are not restricted to Caucasians. Ferroportin disease, the most common non-HFE hereditary iron-loading disorder, is caused by a loss of iron export function of FPN resulting in early and preferential iron accumulation in Kupffer cells and macrophages with high ferritin levels and low-to-normal transferrin saturation. This autosomal dominant disorder has milder expressivity than hemochromatosis. Other much rarer genetic disorders are associated with hepatic iron load, but the clinical picture is usually dominated by symptoms and signs due to failure of other organs (e.g., anemia in atransferrinemia or neurologic defects in aceruloplasminemia). Finally, in the context of various necro-inflammatory or disease processes (i.e., chronic viral or metabolic liver diseases), regional or local iron accumulation may occur that aggravates the clinical course of the underlying disease or limits efficacy of therapy.

REFERENCES

Antonello PietrangeloM.D. Ph.D. 

Director, Division of Internal Medicine 2 and Center for Hemochromatosis, “Mario Coppo” Liver Research Center, University Hospital of Modena, Via del Pozzo 71

41100 Modena, Italy

Email: antonello.pietrangelo@unimore.it