Being Irish Could Kill You ; Celtic Gene Causes Blood Disease

By GAIL EDGAR

PEOPLE of Irish descent are more likely to suffer from a hereditary blood disease which has been dubbed the Celtic Curse.

Hereditary haemochromatosis (HHC) means blood has too much iron and can result in cancer, diabetes and organ failure.

And researchers at the Mater Miscericordiae Hospital in Dublin have identified a link between the Celtic gene and the potentially fatal disorder.

Professor John Crowe from the Mater’s Liver Unit said the spread of HHC around the world is linked with the Irish Diaspora. He said: “The highest frequencies outside Ireland are found in eastern Australia, eastern United States and in Great Britain.” It is estimated one in five Irish people carry the gene and one in 86 will develop HHC.

The symptoms include tiredness, male impotence, liver enlargement, arthritis and a permanent tan.

However, if detected early, HHC is treated by blood-letting.