Table 5.

Hereditary hemochromatosis

Homozygote frequency	1 in 200
Carrier frequency (N. Europeans)	Approx. 1 in 10
Disease expression: males to females	Approx. 5 : 1 (juvenile cases show equal sex ratio)
Other modifying factors	Alcohol (approx. 80% of established cases) underlying red blood cell disorders, such as spherocytosis, β-thalassemia
Age of onset	>40-year-long presymptomatic period
Clinical features	Nonspecific fatigue; asthenia; joint pains; loss of libido and impotence; diabetes mellitus; liver enlargement; increased skin pigmentation; cardiac disease; increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Treatment	Phlebotomy and/or iron chelators.
Prognosis	Untreated disease shortens life; treatment before cirrhosis develops compatible with normal life expectancy.