Secondary Hemochromatosis Accompanied by Diabetes Mellitus and Hypogonadism.

A 49-year-old woman was admitted because of hyperglycemia. On a delivery at age 29 iron deficiency anemia was indicated. She was injected with 40mg of saccharated ferric oxide every two weeks until age 40. At age 35 menopause occurred. Serum ferritin increased (4,300ng/ml). An abdominal computed tomogram (CT) showed increased hepatic CT density. Iron deposition in the parenchymal cells of the liver was shown in a biopsy specimen. Secondary hemochromatosis was diagnosed. Her gonadotropin release decreased. After 30 months serum ferritin had decreased gradually to the normal range after daily 1,000mg injection of deferoxamine mesilate. Although the hepatic CT density decreased, gonadotropin release and insulin release were not improved.