A case of secondary hemochromatosis with elevated serum interleukin-6

Here we report a case of an 88-year-old woman with secondary hemochromatosis. Because of severe anemia, she had received blood transfusions many times in the past three years. She had a history of surgical treatments for uterine cervical cancer and rectal cancer. Her entire skin showed a progressive greyish-blue hue. Histopathologically, Berlin blue staining-positive granules were found in the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. Ultrasound sonography, CT, and MRI revealed the deposition of iron in the liver, pancreas, and spleen, leading to the diagnosis of hemochromatosis. The concentration of interleukin-6 in serum was elevated. We speculate that the elevated serum interleukin-6 was associated with the etiology of the severe anemia and hemochromatosis in this patient.