(HOME) 
Subject: bone density and iron

Effect of venesection on bone mineral density in an eugonadal 
woman with haemochromatosis.

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1999 Feb;14(2):176-8 

Hibbert EJ, Fulcher GR, Coyle L, Gates F, Clifton-Bligh P, Stiel D

Department of Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW,
Australia.

BACKGROUND: A 41-year-old premenopausal woman with newly diagnosed 
haemochromatosis was found to have osteopenia on screening bone mineral 
densitometry.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Liver biopsy showed grade 3 haemochromatosis with 
an hepatic iron index of 4. Investigation for secondary factors for osteopenia 
revealed no cause. The patient was clinically and biochemically eugonadal. 
Following venesection of 8 L blood (4 g iron) over 17 months and calcium 
supplementation, her bone density rose significantly. 
Neck of femur bone density increased by 6.0% over 13 months and lumbar 
vertebral bone density increased by 7.2%. There are no previous reports of 
response of bone density to venesection in eugonadal patients or in women with 
haemochromatosis.

PMID: 10029301, UI: 99151759


----------------------------------------------------------------

 (HOME)