Key link between arthritis, liver disease and common genetic disorders

New Edith Cowan University (ECU) research has found a key link between the risk of severe liver disease and arthritis in people with Australia's most common genetic disorder

About 100,000 Australians are estimated to carry the high-risk genotype for hemochromatosis, a condition that affects people of Nordic ancestry, where the body builds up too much iron

It can lead to many complications, the most serious of which is advanced liver fibrosis, which affects the liver, leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer

However, early detection of advanced liver fibrosis can help clinicians identify those at greatest risk and reduce the impact or occurrence of future complications

ECU researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at the QIMR Berghofer Institute for Medical Research, found that in patients with hemochromatosis, arthritis is a strong predictor of developing clinically important liver problems

The study, published in the Mayo Clinic Journal, looked at 112 patients with hemochromatosis

Of the 19 patients with advanced stage 3-4 liver fibrosis, 84% also had arthritis

However, of the 65 subjects without arthritis, only 5% developed advanced liver fibrosis

Senior author Professor John Olynick said the results have many implications for people with, or at risk of, hemochromatosis

"Because liver fibrosis improves with treatment, it is important to accurately determine whether advanced liver fibrosis is present when evaluating patients," he said

"We recommend that patients with hemochromatosis who have arthritis should be appropriately evaluated for the presence of advanced liver fibrosis

Professor Olynyk said the research could also save many people from having to undergo unnecessary surgery

"Those with hemochromatosis, but without arthritis at diagnosis, are less likely to have advanced liver fibrosis, which may make the initial liver biopsy unnecessary,

"Instead, they can monitor the development of fibrosis through non-invasive methods

Prof Olynyk said the link to arthritis could help diagnose more people with hemochromatosis, which is often difficult because many symptoms are relatively non-specific and common in the general population

"People with the right background with arthritis or liver disease should always be evaluated for underlying hemochromatosis -- especially when the cause of the problem is unclear,

"Arthritis Prediction of Advanced Liver Fibrosis in HFE Hemochromatosis," published in the Mayo Clinic
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