title: Therapeutic Depletion of Iron Stores Is Not Associated with a Reduced Hemoglobin Mass in a Hemochromatosis Patient.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hereditary hemochromatosis features a dysregulated iron absorption leading to iron overload and organ damage. The regulation of total hemoglobin mass during depletion of iron deposits by therapeutic phlebotomy has not been studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The initial ferritin level of the 52-year-old male subject was 1,276 μg/l. Despite successful depletion of iron stores (ferritin<Sub>min</Sub>: 53 μg/l) through phlebotomies, total hemoglobin mass stabilized at the pretherapy level. However, regeneration of total hemoglobin mass was accelerated (up to 10.8 g/day).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this hemochromatosis patient, the total hemoglobin mass was not altered in the long term, but regeneration was accelerated, possibly due to elevated body iron content.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise und Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wrobel
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise und Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Torben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pottgiesser
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise und Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Birkner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise und Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deibert
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise und Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ahlgrim
keywords: Hemochromatosis; Iron overload; Phlebotomy; Total hemoglobin mass