Iron as an essential nutrient is involved in multiple metabolic activities. The importance of a sufficient iron supply is stressed by the fact that, according to WHO data, about 30 % of the global population suffers from iron deficiency and resulting anemia. In contrast, hereditary hemochromatosis is the most common monogeneous inherited disease (prevalence of homozygous genotype 1:200 - 300 in Germany). While iron-induced anemia can be handled by relatively simple diagnostic and therapeutic management, the diagnosis and quantification of organ iron overload is far more challenging. This is of great clinical impact, as the overall body and organ iron concentration is the crucial prognostic parameter in iron overload disease. In 2001 the international workshop of NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) concluded that a quantitative, noninvasive, safe, and accurate approach for the assessment of body iron storage is needed to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with iron overload.
