Olynyk JK, Trinder D, Ramm GA et al.
Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, WA, Australia.
Hepatology 2008;48:991–1001.
Editor’s note: Hereditary hemochromatosis is a topic that has had a wealth of new data published since 1996, when the discovery of the
HFE gene was made (
Nat Genet 1996;13:399–408). In this short review, the authors clearly summarize the content of a recent monothematic congress on the disease. Principally, they comment on the discovery of the iron regulatory hormone, hepicidin (
Blood Cells Mol Dis 2002;29:327–35), the low penetrance of the
HFE gene, and the fact that gene modifiers still need to be discovered to explain this. Anyone needing a refresher course or updating on genetic hemochromatosis can absorb this well-referenced review in 30 mins.