Hemochromatosis Genetic Screening: What Causes Hereditary Hemochromatosis
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What Causes Hereditary Hemochromatosis?
Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder. It is passed from a parent to a child (inherited). Most people who have hemochromatosis inherit defective genes from both parents. In rare cases, a person can have hemochromatosis by inheriting defective genes from just one parent.
A person who has inherited only one defective gene will most likely be a carrier of hemochromatosis and will not have the disease. A carrier can pass the defective gene on to his or her children.
- If only one parent is a carrier of a defective gene, the child will not have hemochromatosis; however, there is a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier.
- If both parents are carriers, there is only a 25% chance that the child will have hemochromatosis, but a 50% chance that the child will be a carrier.
| Last updated: | April 30, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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