Compound heterozygote (C282Y/H63D) of hereditary hemochromatosis in a 16-year-old girl with hypoplastic kidney

Abstract

Iron-overload diseases are associated with primary or secondary disturbances of iron metabolism. Hereditary hemochromatosis, a genetically heterogeneous disease that is characterized by increased iron absorption and progressive deposition in parenchymal cells, may lead to organ damage and failure. Molecular studies have shown that hemochromatosis type 1 is predominantly due to a mutation in the HFE gene; there are 2 major mutations (C282Y and H63D). Disease symptoms are observed mostly after 40 years of age, often in men. We report the unusual case of a 16-year-old girl with an elevated serum iron level and a hypoplastic kidney. Identification of heterozygosity for the HFE gene mutation C282Y/H63D confirmed the diagnosis of hemochromatosis type 1. The early detection of hemochromatosis in the presented case may delay organ damage and failure due to iron overload.