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Co-inheritance of HFE mutations has a substantial role in iron overload in beta-thalassaemia carriers in north European populations where two HFE mutations, C282Y and H63D, are prevalent. In Thailand, there was little information about the allele frequency of HFE mutations. It is of interest to determine whether such determinants represent a potential risk in developing iron overload as nearly 40% of the Thai population carry either one of thalassaemia or haemoglobinpathy alleles. A total of 380 normal controls from five different regions including Bangkok were screened for the HFE C282Y, H63D and IVS5+1 G-->A alleles. In addition, 70 individuals with homozygous haemoglobin E (Hb EE) were also tested and their genotypes were correlated with levels of serum ferritin. H63D is the major HFE mutation found in the Thai population with an average allele frequency of 3% (range 1-5%). One individual was heterozygous for the splice site mutation IVS5 + 1 G --> A, and the C282Y allele was not detected. In the Hb EE group, five individuals had iron deficiency (ferritin

Haemochromatosis (HH) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease caused by inappropriate iron absorption. Most HH patients are homozygous for the C282Y mutation in the HFE gene. However, penetrance of the C282Y mutation is incomplete, and other genetic factors may well affect the HH phenotype. Ferroportin and TFR2 mutations also cause HH, and two HAMP mutations have recently been reported that causes juvenile haemochromatosis (JH) in the homozygous state. Here, we report evidence for digenic inheritance of HH. We have detected two new HAMP mutations in two different families, in which there is concordance between severity of iron overload and heterozygosity for HAMP mutations when present with the HFE C282Y mutation. In family A, the proband has a JH phenotype and is heterozygous for C282Y and a novel HAMP mutation Met50del IVS2+1(-G). This is a four nucleotide ATGG deletion which causes a frameshift. The proband's unaffected mother is also heterozygous for Met50del IVS2+1(-G), but lacks the C282Y mutation and is heterozygous for the HFE H63D mutation. Met50del IVS2+1(-G) was absent from 642 control chromosomes. In family B, a second novel, less severe HAMP mutation, G71D, was identified. This was detected in the general population at an allele frequency of 0.3%. We propose that the phenotype of C282Y heterozygotes and homozygotes may be modified by heterozygosity for mutations which disrupt the function of hepcidin in iron homeostasis, with the severity of iron overload corresponding to the severity of the HAMP mutation.

Co-inheritance of HFE mutations has a substantial role in iron overload in beta-thalassaemia carriers in north European populations where two HFE mutations, C282Y and H63D, are prevalent. In Thailand, there was little information about the allele frequency of HFE mutations. It is of interest to determine whether such determinants represent a potential risk in developing iron overload as nearly 40% of the Thai population carry either one of thalassaemia or haemoglobinpathy alleles. A total of 380 normal controls from five different regions including Bangkok were screened for the HFE C282Y, H63D and IVS5+1 G--A alleles. In addition, 70 individuals with homozygous haemoglobin E (Hb EE) were also tested and their genotypes were correlated with levels of serum ferritin. H63D is the major HFE mutation found in the Thai population with an average allele frequency of 3% (range 1-5%). One individual was heterozygous for the splice site mutation IVS5 + 1 G --A, and the C282Y allele was not detected. In the Hb EE group, five individuals had iron deficiency (ferritin12 microg/L) and the remaining 65 individuals had a wide range of serum ferritin levels of 16-700 microg/L. Four individuals with Hb EE were heterozygous for the H63D allele. No significant difference in serum ferritin level was detected in this group with or without the HFE mutation (137.2 +/- 78 vs. 116.3 +/- 128 microg/L). HFE mutations are relatively uncommon among the Thai population, and the average allele frequency of the ancient H63D mutation is similar to that of other countries in this region. Because of their paucity, it appears that these alleles are less likely to be responsible for high ferritin levels and iron loading in individuals with Hb E related disorders.