ironjustice

<<snip>>
Iron overload is likely the underlying cause
<<snip>>


Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2004 Mar 19;129(12):617-20. Related Articles, Links


[Multifocal nodular fatty infiltration of the liver associated with porphyria
and haemochromatosis]

[Article in German]

Daberkow U, Dorffel Y, Schmidt H, Scholze J.

Medizinische Poliklinik, Ambulante Spezialmedizin, Universitatsklinikum
Charite, Campus Mitte, Berlin. ulrike.daberkow@charite.de

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 64-year-old woman suffered from severe
fatigue. She was admitted to our outpatient unit for a diagnostic evaluation of
multiple liver lesions as well as an adrenal gland tumor. Diabetes mellitus was
diagnosed 22 years ago. Clinical evaluation revealed a mild obesity and a
facial hypertrichosis. INVESTIGATIONS: Apart from elevated liver enzymes, serum
ferritin and transferrin saturation were increased. Suspected haemochromatosis
was verified by genetic ****yses. ****yses of a 24 hours urine sample revealed
typical constellation of a chronic hepatic porphyria. The liver lesions were
diagnosed as multifocal fatty infiltrations using computer tomography. The
patient refused a liver biopsy. The tumor of the adrenal gland represented an
adenoma without endocrine activity. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Repeated phlebotomies
were performed for the treatment of haemochromatosis. In the following serum
ferritin returned to normal and liver enzymes as well as hyperporphyriuria
decreased markedly. Diabetes was better controlled due to decrease of insulin
requirements, too. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the association of
hereditary haemochromatosis and chronic hepatic porphyria, which presumably
cause multifocal nodal fatty infiltration of the liver. Iron overload is likely
the underlying cause, which represents the target for treatment options.

Publication Types:
Case Reports

PMID: 15011131 [PubMed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
------

Who loves ya.
Tom
Jesus Was A Vegetarian! http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com
Man Is A Herbivore! http://pages.ivillage.com/ironjustice/manisaherbivore
DEAD PEOPLE WALKING http://pages.ivillage.com/ironjustice/deadpeoplewalking