TY - JOUR T1 - Hereditary hemochromatosis: A common, often unrecognized, genetic disease JF - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine JO - Cleve Clin J Med SP - 224 LP - 237 VL - 69 IS - 3 AU - Geraldine M. McCarthy AU - Conor J. McCarthy AU - Dermot Kenny AU - John Crowe AU - Stephen Eustace Y1 - 2002/03/01 UR - http://www.ccjm.org/content/69/3/224.abstract N2 - Hereditary hemochromatosis in people of northern European descent is more common than many physicians realize. It causes excessive gastrointestinal absorption of iron, leading to potentially fatal iron deposition in multiple organs. Early diagnosis and phlebotomy to reduce iron stores can prevent complications and provide normal life expectancy. Genetic testing of relatives of patients with hemochromatosis is warranted in some circumstances. ER -