Should the Children of Patients with Hemochromatosis be Screened for the Disease?

Abstract

Idiopathic hemochromatosis is an underdiagnosed treatable condition inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Since early treatment is of demonstrated value, screening of high risk groups of individuals in a valuable exercise in preventive medicine. Although examination of siblings is always recommended, the frequency of the hemochromatosis gene makes the screening of children of patients with hemochromatosis an important undertaking, as illustrated by the families described in this report.