Hemochromatosis with Megaloblastic Anemia Responding to Folic Acid

Abstract

THE pattern of iron metabolism in hemochromatosis has been well established. Thus, it has been shown that the absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract is greatly increased in addition to the increased affinity for iron by the body tissues.^{1 2 3} Congenital and acquired hemochromatosis have the same fundamental defect of increased iron absorption. In the former, there appears to be an inherited defect in the so-called mucosal "block," thus allowing the absorption of undue amounts of iron from the intestinal tract. Most commonly, patients with the congenital type of hemochromatosis have normal hemoglobin levels, and thus they can afford frequent . . .