Transferrin receptors on circulating monocytes in hereditary haemochromatosis.

In patients with hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) abnormal functional properties of the macrophage system have been observed. The present study is a preliminary report of increased transferrin receptor expression on monocytes from 12 patients with HH. There was no correlation between the degree of iron overload and the transferrin receptor expression on the monocytes. The results obtained thus indicate that the observed increase in transferrin receptors is not a secondary phenomenon due to systemic iron overload but could be an expression of a primary inborn error of iron metabolism in HH. The functional aspects of the receptors were not evaluated as they were analyzed by means of monoclonal antibody technique.