Rheumatic disorders in the South African Negro. Part III. Idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head
Solomon, L.; Beighton, P.
South African Medical Journal 49(44): 1825-1828
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 1188546 Document Number: 94278
Idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head, with progressive articular destruction, is a well-recognised disorder in the South African Negro. Twenty-nine cases were studied in detail. In 17 there was evidence of associated iron overload, but it is unlikely that this contributed directly to the occurence of osteonecrosis. The syndrome of siderosis, scurvy and osteoporosis in Johannesburg Blacks is attributed to the ingestion of large quantities of iron in home-brewed beer. Often the beer is mixed with much more potent liquor and it is postulated that this, rather than the iron overload, is the cause of 'idiopathic' femoral head necrosis.