Hereditary haemochromatosis
Meaning of hereditary haemochromatosis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, hereditary haemochromatosis: (a) means any genetic disorder of iron transport and metabolism which results in accumulation of excess iron, and with: (i) documented iron overload in parenchymatous organs; or (ii) clinical evidence of iron-related organ or tissue dysfunction; and (b) includes: (i) classical (type 1) hereditary haemochromatosis due to a mutation of the HFE gene; and (ii) non-classical hereditary haemochromatosis due to a mutation of a non-HFE related gene.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 23 of 2021
At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting hereditary haemochromatosis or death from hereditary haemochromatosis with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)for males, consuming a total of at least 60 kilograms of alcohol within any five year period before the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: Alcohol consumption is calculated utilising the Australian Standard of ten grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink.
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (2)for females, consuming a total of at least 40 kilograms of alcohol within any five year period before the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: Alcohol consumption is calculated utilising the Australian Standard of ten grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink.
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (3)having infection with hepatitis C virus at the time of the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (4)having steatohepatitis at the time of the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hereditary haemochromatosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(1) to 9(5) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 24 of 2021
5 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, hereditary haemochromatosis or death from hereditary haemochromatosis is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)for males, consuming a total of at least 60 kilograms of alcohol within any five year period before the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: Alcohol consumption is calculated utilising the Australian Standard of ten grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink.
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (2)for females, consuming a total of at least 40 kilograms of alcohol within any five year period before the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: Alcohol consumption is calculated utilising the Australian Standard of ten grams of alcohol per standard alcoholic drink.
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (3)having infection with hepatitis C virus at the time of the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (4)having steatohepatitis at the time of the clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis;
Note: The clinical worsening of hereditary haemochromatosis typically manifests as hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis.
- (5)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for hereditary haemochromatosis;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(1) to 9(5) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.
