Control of iron metabolism – Lessons from neonatal hemochromatosis

When hepatologists begin their investigations at the scene of liver damage, iron is certainly on the list of “usual suspects” to be rounded up. Hemochromatosis, a well-known cause of chronic liver disease, is the most prevalent genetic disorder in adults [1]. Serum iron parameters are therefore included in most guidelines on how to investigate patients with elevated transaminases or chronic liver disease [2].