An Autopsy Case of Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Anemia Associated with Severe Hemochromatosis

Abstract

We report an autopsy case of pyruvate kinase deficiency anemia with severe hemochromatosis. This anemia is rarely associated with hemochromatosis. In this case, the autopsy findings showed hemochromatosis of the heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, testes and skin. Microscopic examination showed iron depositions in these organs, but not in the bone marrow. A family study showed negative data for iron overload and no known HLA type suggestive of idiopathic hemochromatosis. To explain this rare association, we suggest that this patient's iron overload was an acquired type, which might have mainly been caused by increased iron absorption due to the severe hemolytic anemia. © 1994, The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. All rights reserved.