What is the hereditary hemochromatosis gene?
The hereditary hemochromatosis gene helps to regulate the amount of iron absorbed by the body. The gene tells the body how to make a certain protein that is involved in moving and storing iron. An altered hereditary hemochromatosis gene can change the way the body transports or stores iron, leading to iron overload. What changes in the gene lead to hereditary hemochromatosis? The most common changes in the gene are named C282Y and H63D. These names describe the locations of the changes within the gene. The C282Y change is the most significant. Most people but not all who inherit two copies of the C282Y change will develop hereditary hemochromatosis. Up to one-third of people with two C282Y changes do not develop any symptoms. A person with two H63D changes has less than a 1% chance of developing hereditary hemochromatosis. A person with one C282Y change and one H63D change has about a 5% chance of developing hereditary hemochromatosis. How do you get hereditary hemochromatosis? Every c
