Hepatic Hemosiderin Deposits

Abstract

The diagnosis of hemochromatosis may be suspected when there is hepatomegaly, diabetes, and skin pigmentation, with or without gonadal atrophy.^1,2 Traditionally, confirmation has depended on the demonstration of hemosiderin in sections of skin² or in epithelial cells in the urine sediment.³ With the introduction of needle biopsy of the liver, direct diagnosis of this condition seemed available.^4,5 Indeed, several investigators^4-6 have emphasized the value of needle biopsy in the diagnosis of this disease. Hepatic hemosiderin deposits, however, are found in other diseases as well as in the constitutional disease, hemochromatosis.^1,2,7-10 Large amounts of iron-containing pigment have been demonstrated in the livers of patients with refractory or hemolytic anemia receiving multiple blood transfusions¹¹ and/or therapeutic doses of iron salts,¹² in South African natives suffering from Kwashiorkor,¹³ and in alcoholic patients with cirrhosis.^1,2,7-10,14 In an attempt to appraise the significance of increased