Hereditary
hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in
white people, especially those of Northern European descent. Hemochromatosis
occurs in 3 to 5 per 1,000 white people.1
Men are 5 to 10 times more likely than women to develop
hemochromatosis.2 The blood lost through menstruation
and pregnancy may reduce the amount of iron stored in the body and cause
delayed development of hemochromatosis symptoms in women.
Citations
McDonnell SM, Parrish RG (2003). Hereditary
hemochromatosis and its elusive natural history. Archives of
Internal Medicine, 163(20): 2421-2423.
Powell LW (2005). Hemochromatosis. In E Braunwald et
al., eds., Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,
16th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2298-2303. New York: McGraw-Hill.
McDonnell SM, Parrish RG (2003). Hereditary
hemochromatosis and its elusive natural history. Archives of
Internal Medicine, 163(20): 2421-2423.
Powell LW (2005). Hemochromatosis. In E Braunwald et
al., eds., Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,
16th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2298-2303. New York: McGraw-Hill.
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