Abstract
Hemochromatosis is a genetic disease related to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A3, B7, and B14 histocompatability antigens resulting in increased iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and deposition of iron in tissues. Arthropathy is not uncommon in the late stage of disease. Characteristic radiologic findings are commonly observed in the wrists and metacarpophalangeal joints as well as the hips, knees, and ankle joints. Presented here is a 34-year-old male with hemochromatosis and bilateral shoulder, knee, and ankle pain. Radiologic examination revealed osteoarthritic findings in both ankle joints and chondrocalcinosis in the knee joints. All the major criteria of hypermobility syndrome were observed on physical examination. The early-onset arthropathy seen with this hemochromatosis is thought to result from hypermobility syndrome.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Olsson KS (1998) Endocrine and hemoglobin-related arthropathies and storage diseases. In: Klippel JH, Dieppe PA (eds) Rheumatology. Second edn. Mosby, Philadelphia, pp 8.26.1–8.26.4
Axfort JS, Bomford A, Revell P, Watt I, Williams R, Hamilton EBD (1991) Hip arthropathy in genetic hemochromatosis. Arthritis Rheum 34:357–361
Faraawi R, Harth M, Kertesz A, Bell D (1993) Arthritis in hemochromatosis. J Rheumatol 20:448–452
von Kempis J (2001) Arthropathy in hereditary hemochromatosis. Curr Opin Rheumatol 13:80–83
Grahame R (1998) Regional and heritable bone and collagen diseases. In: Klippel JH, Dieppe PA (eds) Rheumatology. Second edn. Mosby, Philadelphia, pp 8.51.1–8.51.6
Dequeker J (2001) Benign familial hypermobility syndrome and Trendelenburg sign in painting "The Three Graces" by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640). Ann Rheum Dis 60:894–895
Bailey EJ, Gardner B (1998) Hemochromatosis of the foot and ankle. Report of three cases and review of the literature. Clin Orthop 349:108–115
Jensen PS (1976) Hemochromatosis: a disease often silent but not invisible. Am J Roentgenol 126:343–351
Biasi D, Carletto A, Caramaschi P, Maleknia T, Scambi C, Melchiori S, Bambara LM (1999) The articular damage of hemochromatosis. A little known aspect. [Abstract.] Recent Prog Med 90:226–230
Baker ND, Jahss MH, Leventhal GH (1984) Unusual involvement of the feet in hemochromatosis. Foot Ankle 4:212–215
Ines LS, da Silva JA, Malcata AB, Porto AL (2001) Arthropathy of genetic hemochromatosis: a major and distinctive manifestation of the disease. Clin Exp Rheumatol 19:98–102
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ofluoğlu, D., Gündüz, O.H., Özaras, N. et al. Early-onset hemochromatic arthropathy in a patient with idiopathic hypermobility syndrome. Rheumatol Int 23, 305–308 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0320-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0320-5