Hemochromatosis, the most common form of iron overload
disease, is an inherited disorder that causes the body to
absorb and store too much iron. The extra iron builds up
in organs and damages them.
It can have genetic or nongenetic causes. People with
hemochromatosis absorb more iron than the body needs. The
body has no natural way to rid itself of excess iron, so
extra iron is stored in body tissues, especially the
liver, which is harmful.
If hemochromatois is not treated it can lead to liver
cancer.
Signs and Symptoms:
Early symptoms
include; Fatigue, weakness, weight loss, joint pain, or
abdominal pain
Liver disease,
including an enlarged liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver
failure
Damage to the
pancreas, possibly causing diabetes
Abnormal
pigmentation of the skin, making it look gray or bronze
Early menopause
Thyroid
deficiency
Diagnosis:
Two blood test
are needed: transferrin saturation and serum ferritin
In some Liver
biopsy is needed to show how much iron is accumulated in the
liver
Treatment:
Phlebotomy
(removal of excess blood)
An annual blood
ferritin test will help determine how often blood should be
removed
