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Osteoporosis in HFE2 juvenile hemochromatosis. A case report and review of the literature

Osteoporosis International volume 17, pages 150–155 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Juvenile hemochromatosis (JH) is a severe form of hemochromatosis, which involves rapid iron overload and leads to organ damage, typically before the age of 30. We report a single case of a 25-year-old man suffering from juvenile hemochromatosis, with aggressive clinical manifestations, typically characterized by transaminasemia and progressive erectile dysfunction, due to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The clinical case appears interesting, as the patient also had secondary osteoporosis accompanied by increased bone resorption, which prevalently affected trabecular bone. Approximately 6 months after normalization of serum ferritin levels was achieved by frequent phlebotomies, he became eugonadal and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine increased. Our observations suggest that osteoporosis might occur in the state of JH even at a young age, mainly due to the deprivation of sex steroids and the direct tissue toxicity of iron.

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Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, “Hippokrateion” Hospital of Athens, Vassilisis Sofias Avenue 108, 115 27, Athens, Greece

    Nicholas G. Angelopoulos & George Tolis

  2. First Division, “Ag.Sophia” Children University Hospital Athens, Greece

    Anastasia K. Goula

  3. First Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, “Laikon” General Hospital, Athens, Greece

    George Papanikolaou

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  1. Nicholas G. Angelopoulos
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  2. Anastasia K. Goula
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  3. George Papanikolaou
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  4. George Tolis
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Correspondence to Nicholas G. Angelopoulos.

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Angelopoulos, N.G., Goula, A.K., Papanikolaou, G. et al. Osteoporosis in HFE2 juvenile hemochromatosis. A case report and review of the literature. Osteoporos Int 17, 150–155 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1920-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1920-6

Keywords

  • Bone mineral density
  • Bone turnover
  • Hypogonadism
  • Juvenile hemochromatosis
  • Osteoporosis