Introduction
 
Iron is an essential mineral required by every living cell for DNA synthesis, oxygen transport, and respiration. Iron's capacity to accept and donate electrons allows it to shuttle between ferrous (Fe2+) and ferric (Fe3+) oxidation states and is essential for its participation in a number of enzymatic biochemical reactions.

In spite of the importance of iron to living cells, it can also be quite toxic. Iron catalyzes free radical formation, and therefore under physiologic states only small amounts of iron exist unbound in plasma. Iron overload may be due to increased oral intake, in the case of iron . . . [Full Text of this Article]


Regulation of iron homeostasis
 

Hereditary hemochromatosis and other iron overload syndromes
 
Hereditary hemochromatosis
Other causes of hemochromatosis/hemosiderosis

The porphyrias
 
Acute hepatic porphyrias
Metabolic defects
Acute intermittent porphyria
Hereditary coproporphyria
Variegate porphyria
ALA dehydratase deficiency
Clinical features
Diagnostic algorithm
Treatment
Chronic hepatic porphyria
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Metabolic defect
Clinical features
Treatment
Erythropoietic porphyrias
Protoporphyria (erythropoietic protoporphyria)
Metabolic defect
Clinical features
Therapy
Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (Günther disease)
Metabolic defect
Clinical features
Treatment