Successful pregnancy following gonadotropin therapy in a young female with juvenile idiopathic hemochromatosis and secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

Abstract

Heart failure and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are the most frequent clinical problems encountered in patients with juvenile idiopathic hemochromatosis (JIH). In this context, amenorrhea is one of the first symptoms in female patients, and hormone therapy must be added to phlebotomy to restore menstrual cycles. Here we report the case of a woman in childbearing age with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to JIH. Following therapy with gonadotropinic hormones the patient had a twin pregnancy with term delivery. The newborns presented a normal iron status. This confirms that early diagnosis and treatment of JIH are important to prevent irreversible organ damage and shows that the female reproductive function can be preserved in adequately treated patients.