Michaela Bátorová, Lenka Haferová, Štefan Hrušovský, Mária Belovičová, Boris Rychlý
Hereditary haemochromatosis is an inherited, autosomally recesive disease associated with excessive absorption of iron from duodenum and its deposition to the parenchyma of many organs and tissues leading to their disorders. The disease is caused by mutations of the HFE-gene localised in 6. chromosome. The clinical manifestation of haemochromatosis includes weakness, hepatopathy, diabetes, skin pigmentation, cardiopathy, arthropathy and hypogonadism. To prove the diagnosis, biochemical tests (mild elevation of aminotransferases, Fe serum level over 35 µmol/l, transferrin saturation over 45 % and ferritinemia over 1000 µmol/l), liver biopsy (high iron levels in hepatocytes), diagnostic imaging, and molecular genetic methods (HFE gene mutations C282Y and/or H63D) are used. The basic therapy by phlebotomies is inexpensive, effective and well tolerated. The aim of screening protocols (serum ALT, Fe, transferrin saturation) is to detect the disease in its early stages, as early treatment allows the patient to live a normal life.