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HH is a common inherited predisposition to absorption of excess iron from one’s diet, most individuals with the predisposition do not develop clinical disease. However, HH has the potential to cause morbidity and mortality.

Genetic testing should be considered for:

• Adults with biochemical evidence of iron overload (>45% fasting transferrin saturation and >300ug/L serum ferritin in men and post-menopausal women or >200ug/L SF in pre-menopausal women)
• Any adult whose first-degree relative has the C282Y HFE gene mutation

 

Updated January 2019

 

WHAT IS HEREDITARY HEMOCHROMATOSIS?

Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive predisposition to absorb excess iron from the diet. The most common cause of HH is mutations in the HFE gene disrupting the iron absorption pathway. In some predisposed individuals, excessive iron absorption and subsequent storage in various organs (i.e. liver, pancreas, heart, joints) eventually lead to cellular injury. If untreated, over time this can cause irreversible tissue/organ damage and shorten life expectancy. Typically, symptoms of HFE-HH present in men aged 40 to 60 and in post-menopausal women; however, age of onset is variable. Symptoms are non-specific and include weakness, lethargy, skin discoloration (bronze or grey), abdominal pain with or without hepatomegaly, joint pain and/or stiffness, arthritis, diabetes, cardiomyopathy, hepatocellular dysfunction, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, testicular atrophy, impotence, and menstrual irregularity. While any of these health concerns can be caused by HFE-HH, the presence of two or more should greatly increase suspicion that the condition is present. Iron overload due to HFE mutations does not occur in childhood, and as HH is an adult onset predisposition, genetic testing in children is not recommended.

With early identification of at-risk individuals, appropriate surveillance of iron indices, and treatment when necessary, all complications can be avoided.

Standard testing by molecular genetics laboratories is targeted mutation analysis to look specifically for the two most common HFE mutations, C282Y and H63D. These mutations account for over 90% of all mutations found. Some laboratories may also test for a rare HFE gene mutation, S65C.

 

RED FLAGS TO CONSIDER GENETIC TESTING OR GENETIC CONSULTATION

A patient with:

 Biochemical evidence of iron overload (>45% fasting transferrin saturation (TS) and >300ug/L serum ferritin (SF) in men and post-menopausal women or >200ug/L SF in pre-menopausal women.) Biochemical evidence of iron overload will be present before the onset of symptoms.

 Unexplained chronic liver disease and increased transferrin saturation

Elevation of ferritin alone is not necessarily due to iron overload. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and can be elevated due to infection, inflammation and malignancy.
Individuals with HFE-HH occasionally demonstrate a normal TS and an elevated ferritin. If clinical suspicion is high and/or the patient has a family history of HFE-HH, genetic testing is still warranted.

FAMILY HISTORY RED FLAGS TO CONSIDER GENETIC TESTING

 

 Adults with a first-degree relative (sibling, parent or child) who is a C282Y/C282Y homozygotte (2 mutated copies of the gene).

Symptomatic adults with a first-degree relative (sibling, parents, child) with one of the following genetic test results:

a. C282Y/H63D (compound heterozygote – 2 different mutated copies of the gene)
b. C282Y/S65C (compound heterozygote)
c. C282Y heterozygote (carrier – 1 mutated copy of the gene)

 Family history of iron overload, liver disease, type II diabetes, arthritis, heart disease (relatives with symptoms of HFE-HH)

PREVALENCE

About 1 in 3 individuals of northern European ancestry are carriers (heterozygotes) of the C282Y or H63D HFE gene mutation. About 1 in 150 individuals have two copies of (are homozygous for) the C282Y HFE gene mutation (genotype C282Y/C282Y). The prevalence of HFE-HH in other ethnicities is lower.

WHAT DOES THE GENETIC TEST RESULT MEAN?

The actual risk to develop iron overload is dependent on how many and which gene mutations have been inherited, in addition to other genetic and non-genetic factors (gender, alcohol intake, the use of iron and vitamin C supplements and menstrual/pregnancy-associated iron losses).

• Two mutations identified confirm the HFE-HH diagnosis in an individual with biochemical evidence of iron overload.
• Two mutations identified in an asymptomatic individual with normal iron indices suggest future potential risk of developing iron overload. Yearly monitoring of iron indices is recommended.

CLINICAL TIPS

• Women are less likely to develop iron overload as a result of menstruation and pregnancy
• Iron overload due to HFE mutations does not occur in childhood
• Typically, symptoms of HH present in men aged 40 to 60 and in post-menopausal women; however, onset is ariable and can occur much earlier or much later
• Early symptoms are nonspecific and include weakness, lethargy, joint pain and/or stiffness, and abdominal pain with or without hepatomegaly
• Before the onset of symptoms, biochemical evidence of iron overload will be present: >45% transferring saturation (TS) and >300µg/L serum ferritin (SF) in men and post-menopausal women, or >200µg/L SF in pre-menopausal women
• Alcohol consumption can exacerbate iron overload in HH-related liver disease

 

For the full-length GEC-KO Messenger on HFE-HH click here.  To connect to your local genetics centre or molecular genetics laboratory click here.

For guidelines on the management of patients with HH, see Bacon et al., Diagnosis and management of hemochromatosis: 2011 practice guideline by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. Hepatology. 54:328–43

 

 

Authors: S Morrison MS CGC, JC Carroll MD CCFP, GE Graham MD FRCPC and JE Allanson MD FRCPC

Updated by the GEC-KO team: S Yusuf MS CGC, JC Carroll MD CCFP, JE Allanson MD FRCPC FCCMG

GEC-KO on the run is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for clinical judgement. GEC-KO aims to aid the practicing clinician by providing informed opinions regarding genetic services that have been developed in a rigorous and evidence-based manner. Physicians must use their own clinical judgement in addition to published articles and the information presented herein. GEC-KO assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from the use of information contained herein.