Novel gain of function mutation in the <scp><i>SLC40A1</i></scp> gene associated with hereditary haemochromatosis type 4

Here we report the case of a 69-year-old Chinese Han woman who presented with liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, skin hyperpigmentation, hyperferritinaemia and high transferrin saturation. Subsequent genetic analyses identified a novel heterozygous mutation (p.Cys326Phe) in the SLC40A1 gene. This is the first report regarding a SLC40A1 mutation in the Chinese Han population and provides novel clinical evidence for the importance of p.Cys326 in SLC40A1 gene function.