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Haemochromotosis

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Smowball | 14:13 Fri 04th Mar 2016 | Body & Soul
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My dad has the above and I've been tested and I am a carrier. What are the odds of my children developing it? I've three boys and one girl. Youngest is 16 and rest are in 20's.
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If the children's father was not also a carrier the chances of them developing the condition are ZERO (but they could still be carriers if they inherited the defective gene from you).

If the children's father was also a carrier then there's still less than a 10% chance of the children actually signs and symptoms of iron overload.

Source:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Haemochromatosis/Pages/Causes.aspx
Question Author
I don't even talk to their dad but I know he has never been tested
Typo!
'actually signs' = 'actually developing signs'
Question Author
So what do you think I should do?
If the kids father was a carrier then:

I agree with Buenchico...if the kids father was not a carrier then ZERO as mentioned by Buenchico.

However it is my understanding that:

If you and your husband are both carriers then your children, have:

a 50 per cent chance of inheriting one mutated HFE gene and becoming a carrier
a 25 per cent chance of inheriting both mutated HFE genes and therefore being at risk of excess iron absorption and developing symptoms of haemochromatosis
a 25 per cent chance of inheriting two normal genes.

I am not a geneticist.

A blood test on the kids followed by genotyping if necessary will give you the answer.
@Smowball

As the NHS article says, the reasons why the 1 in 4 who get two copies of the variant gene have only 10% risk of symptoms are unknown at this time. I've studied biochemistry and know the absorption and processing of iron in the body involves dozens of molecular structures which we all possess but whise performance varies between individuals, for reasons also down to genetics.

Nothing wrong with being a 'carrier' and the variant gene will continue to exist until science gains the powers to repair it. But first they'd probably want to research that 'unknown' stuff so they will need carriers and sufferers for generations to come. Most of their insights into our own molecular inner workings stem from studying rare disease conditions.

A lengthy preamble to recommending that you alert your children to the risks of the condition but the decision to take a blood test is their choice. It may be a mild imposition on their respective future partners to also go through a blood test. Years down the line they may find themselves obliged to declare it, for insurance purposes or divulge it to a subsequent partner, even if negative.

If there's a right 'etiquette' for this sort of thing, I am ignorant of it.

Question Author
Thankyou for all the answers - most helpful x

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