Suppression of hemoglobin H in disorders of iron metabolism.

Disorders of iron metabolism affect the expression of hemoglobin H in hemoglobin H disease. Two cases of iron deficiency with reduced synthesis of hemoglobin H are described in the literature. We report two more cases, one with anemia of chronic disease and another with alcoholic sideroblastic anemia where the hemoglobin H was not detected at presentation and appeared after treatment of the underlying disorder. The pathogenesis of suppression of hemoglobin H is discussed.