Neonatal hemochromatosis

Neonatal hemochromatosis (NH) is a rare gestational condition in which iron accumulates in the liver and extrahepatic sites of the fetus in a distribution similar to that seen in hereditary HFE-associated hemochromatosis [1,2]. Liver damage is, extensive and the dominant clinical feature. Many cases result in late fetal loss, and without vigorous support, live-born children survive only hours to days. NH is the most frequently recognized cause of liver failure in neonates. It recurs within sibships at a rate higher than that predicted for simple Mendelian autosomal-recessive inheritance. Treatment is less than adequate.