血色病基因 (HFE) 最常见的突变是 C282Y 和 H63D。[18]Feder JN, Gnirke A, Thomas W, et al. A novel MHC class I-like gene is mutated in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis. Nat Genet. 1996;13:399-408.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8696333?tool=bestpractice.comHFE 基因位于 6 号染色体的短臂。[19]Gane EJ. The impact of research on haemochromatosis and liver transplantation in the Asia-Pacific region. Abstract of the 22nd conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver. Hepatol Intl. 2012;21. HFE 基因的 S65C 突变已经进行了研究,但对铁负荷似乎不起致病作用。作为铁超负荷的原因,H63D 突变的作用尚未完全明确。复杂杂合子 (C282Y/H63D) 可能使铁检测结果升高,但很少出现铁超负荷的后果。[20]Gurrin LC, Bertalli NA, Dalton GW, et al. HFE C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes are at low risk of hemochromatosis-related morbidity. Hepatology. 2009;50:94-101.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.22972/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19554541?tool=bestpractice.com大多数 H63D 突变个体的铁检测结果正常,但在 H63D 纯合子中也有罕见的明显血色病病例。然而,后一种情况可见于已知会导致铁代谢改变的其他疾病中(例如:酒精中毒或代谢不良综合征 [肥胖、高血压、高脂血症、2 型糖尿病和高尿酸血症]),因而在这些情况下,H63D 突变对铁超负荷的作用尚不确定。[2]Brissot P, de Bels F. Current approaches to the management of hemochromatosis. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2006;36-41.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17124037?tool=bestpractice.com罕见情况下,由于编码铁调素、膜铁转运蛋白-1、转铁蛋白受体 2 或血幼素的基因出现突变而导致血色病。[21]Griffiths WJ. Review article: the genetic basis of haemochromatosis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007;26:331-342.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03387.x/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17635368?tool=bestpractice.com
在考虑血色病突变的外显率时,应当鉴别表型外显与铁超负荷相关疾病 (IORD),因为有表型外显的个体才有发生 IORD 的风险。通过血清铁标志物(转铁蛋白饱和度和/或血清铁蛋白)升高识别表型外显,女性纯合子为 40%,男性纯合子接近 90%。[16]Adams PC, Reboussin DM, Barton JC, et al. Hemochromatosis and iron-overload screening in a racially diverse population. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:1769-1778.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa041534#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15858186?tool=bestpractice.com[22]Beutler E, Felitti VJ, Koziol JA, et al. Penetrance of 845G--> A (C282Y) HFE hereditary haemochromatosis mutation in the USA. Lancet. 2002;359:211-218.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11812557?tool=bestpractice.com有发生 IORD 风险的表型外显者比例仍有争议。现有数据表明,具有显著铁负载的 C282Y 纯合子不到一半会发生有临床意义的后果。尤其是女性,发生 IORD 的风险似乎较低。[22]Beutler E, Felitti VJ, Koziol JA, et al. Penetrance of 845G--> A (C282Y) HFE hereditary haemochromatosis mutation in the USA. Lancet. 2002;359:211-218.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11812557?tool=bestpractice.com[23]Allen KJ, Gurrin LC, Constantine CC, et al. Iron-overload-related disease in HFE hereditary hemochromatosis. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:221-230.http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa073286#t=articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18199861?tool=bestpractice.com多项研究证明,在血清铁蛋白低于 2250 pmol/L (1000 ng/mL) 的 C282Y 纯合子中,包括肝硬化在内的 IORD 风险较低。[24]Guyader D, Jacquelinet C, Moirand R, et al. Noninvasive prediction of fibrosis in C282Y homozygous hemochromatosis. Gastroenterology. 1998;115:929-936.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9753496?tool=bestpractice.com[25]Beaton M, Guyader D, Deugnier Y, et al. Noninvasive prediction of cirrhosis in C282Y-linked hemochromatosis. Hepatology. 2002;36:673-678.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12198660?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Allen KJ, Bertalli NA, Osborne NJ, et al; HealthIron Study Investigators. HFE Cys282Tyr homozygotes with serum ferritin concentrations below 1000 microg/L are at low risk of hemochromatosis. Hepatology. 2010;52:925-933.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hep.23786/fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20583211?tool=bestpractice.com除了性别外,其他因素可能会调节铁蓄积的趋势以及影响 IORD 的可能性。这些因素包括尚未发现的遗传突变,失血或献血、饮酒、饮食等环境因素以及诸如病毒性肝炎等感染。[27]Rossi E, Bulsara MK, Olynyk JK, et al. Effect of hemochromatosis genotype and lifestyle factors on iron and red cell indices in a community population. Clin Chem. 2001;47:202-208.http://www.clinchem.org/content/47/2/202.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11159767?tool=bestpractice.com