Body iron stores in children with chronic renal failure in relation to HLA phenotypes.

In 57 children with chronic renal failure (19 on conservative treatment, 25 haemodialysis and 13 after transplantation) body iron stores were determined by an immunoradiometric assay with a heterologous antibody system in relation to haemochromatosis alleles, HLA A3 and B7. Iron overload, predominantly found during haemodialysis, depended on the number of erythrocyte transfusions given and was found to be more pronounced in patients with HLA A3 and/or B7. The frequency of these antigens was significantly higher in patients with iron overload (91%) than with normal (43%) or decreased (44%) iron stores. The relative risk of iron overload was calculated to be 2.0 for HLA A3 and 8.7 for HLA B7. The results suggest that erythrocyte transfusion therapy should be minimised in children with haemochromatosis alleles in order to avoid organ damage by haemosiderosis.