The haemochromatosis gene: A co-factor for chronic liver diseases?

There is increasing evidence that hepatotoxins, such as alcohol and the hepatitis viruses, act as co‐factors in causing hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. For example, alcohol aggravates the hepatic damage produced by iron in hereditary haemochromatosis. We present evidence that the reverse is also tru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology 1999-08, Vol.14 (8), p.745-749
Main Authors: George, Dk, Powell, Lawrie W, Losowsky, Ms
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Chronic Disease
cirrhosis
fibrosis
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
haemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis - complications
Hemochromatosis - genetics
Hepatitis, Viral, Human - genetics
Heterozygote
HFE
Humans
iron
Iron - metabolism
Liver - metabolism
Liver Diseases - complications
Liver Diseases - genetics
Liver Diseases - pathology
Liver Diseases - physiopathology
Medical sciences
Metabolic diseases
Metals (hemochromatosis...)
Mutation
Other metabolic disorders
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Summary:There is increasing evidence that hepatotoxins, such as alcohol and the hepatitis viruses, act as co‐factors in causing hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. For example, alcohol aggravates the hepatic damage produced by iron in hereditary haemochromatosis. We present evidence that the reverse is also true, that is, that iron loading of mild to moderate degree due to heterozygosity or homozygosity for the haemochromatosis genetic mutations acts as a significant hepatotoxin aggravating hepatic damage from other causes of liver disease. These include non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, chronic hepatitis C, porphyria cutanea tarda and possibly primary liver cell cancer. However, any additional hepatotoxic effect is due to the hepatic iron concentration and not the mutations in the haemochromatosis genes.
ISSN:0815-9319
1440-1746
DOI:10.1046/j.1440-1746.1999.01944.x