HLA genes and surnames show a similar genetic structure in Lombardy: does this reflect part of the history of the region?

Lombardy, in northern Italy, is the most populated and industrialized Italian region. We attempt to study its genetic structure with two independent sets of data: HLA allele frequencies and surnames. According to our results, it is plausible to deduce that ancient history, more than genetic isolation and drift, may have contributed to the present genetic structure of Lombardy.

High prevalence of a screening-detected, HFE-unrelated, mild idiopathic iron overload in Northern Italy.

Background And Objectives: In Italy, typical HFE mutations account for only 64% of the cases with overt hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), and a common HFE-unrelated disease was hypothesized.

Design And Methods: One thousand and fifty potential blood donors were screened by iron tests, C282Y and H63D HFE mutation analysis in a region in North Italy. Subjects with repeated fasting transferrin saturation of 45% or more and no secondary iron overload were defined as probands with idiopathic iron overload.