title: Multiple liver abscesses due to Yersinia enterocolitica discloses primary hemochromatosis: three cases reports and review.
abstract: We report three cases of multiple liver abscesses due to Yersinia enterocolitica that led to previously unknown diagnoses of primary hemochromatosis. Y. enterocolitica is an iron-dependent bacterium that relies entirely on exogenous iron for growth. A review of the literature with use of MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD) disclosed 35 cases of Y. enterocolitica liver abscesses; 21 (60%) of these cases were associated with hemochromatosis. In 11 of the remaining 14 cases, two common manifestations of hemochromatosis, diabetes mellitus and cirrhosis of the liver, also were present; these findings were significant. Finally, we emphasize that when iron overload cannot be documented at the time of diagnosis of the liver abscess, long-term follow-up for determination of increasing iron stores is mandatory. With this approach, most manifestations of hemochromatosis in asymptomatic patients can be prevented.
authors.affiliation: Service of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge Hospital, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vadillo
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Corbella
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pac
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Viladrich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pujol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007501:Iron