Can Hemochromatosis Be Contracted Through The Genes?

Posted on Sun, 21 Feb 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 21 Feb 2016 Answered on

Mon, 2 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband has been diagnosed with a mild case of hemochromatosis. Sfould I be tested or my children, all over 30 years old.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, they should be tested

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Can understand your concerns.

Hemochromatosis has autosomal recessive inheritance.
This means that the if both genes are involvement then only the disease manifests.
If only single gene is affected than the person acts as carrier and doesn't manifests the disease.
Hemochromatosis symptoms starts to come between 30 to 40 years.
It is usually adviced that if any family member has hemochromatosis then other family members should be screened for hemochromatosis.
Screening tests like ferritin levels, iron levels, transferrin saturation levels should be done.

I hope this will help you.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Patel (27 hours later)

...but if I don't have the gene, can they still have the disease or even be a carrier? Or can they just be carrier if 1parent has either H63B or HFE?a

Answered by Dr. Deepak Patel (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can have disease if you are carrier

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Let me explain this to you in detail.
This disease manifests only when both genes are affected that is it should be homozygous.
If only one gene is affected then the person acts as carrier.
If your husband has disease that means he is homozygous.
If you are a carrier than there are chances that 50 percent children will be affected.
If you are not a carrier then none of your child can have the disease.

I hope this will help you.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar