Hemochromatosis: discovery of the HFE gene.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a common inherited disorder of iron metabolism affecting about 1 in 250 individuals. HH results in an increased absorption of iron at the baso-lateral surface of the enterocyte with aberrant regulation of ferroportin-mediated transfer of iron in turn brought on by a decrease in circulating hepcidin. The medical literature describes a colorful history of HH with important contributions from faculty at Saint Louis University.