Patients with one of the most common genetic defects called, hereditary hemochromatosis are at an increased risk of stroke, according to a study conducted by the researchers.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is an inherited disorder that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. As a result, toxic levels in the liver go higher, increasing patient’s susceptibility to liver cancer, cirrhosis, etc.

During the course of study, researchers focused their attention on the two variants of hemochromatosis gene, namely H63D and C282Y and concluded that risk of stroke in patients with an extra copy of the H63D was almost double. Throwing more light on H63D gene Borge G. Nordestgaard, from Herlev University Hospital in Denmark said that previous studies have also linked H63D to brain diseases like alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson disease, cerebrovascular disease, etc.

However, researchers themselves are not very sure about the way this gene works; therefore, they are planning to move further with their study. As the following words of Nordestgaard reveal:

Further research is needed to determine why this gene appears to cause such a significant increased risk of stroke, since our data suggest plaque build-up in the arteries and iron overload are not to blame.

Image credit: Brown

Via: Eureka Alert