Learn About Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis is a condition in which there is too much iron in the body. It is also called iron overload.
Iron overload; Blood transfusion - hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis may be a genetic disorder passed down through families.
- People with this type absorb too much iron through their digestive tract. Iron builds up in the body. The liver, heart, and pancreas are common organs where iron builds up.
- It is present at birth, but may not be diagnosed for years.
Hemochromatosis may also occur as a result of:
- Too many blood transfusions in a person with blood disorders such as thalassemia or certain anemias. Over time this may lead to iron overload.
- Long-term alcohol use and other health conditions.
This disorder affects more men than women. It is most common in white people of northern European descent.
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue, lack of energy, weakness
- Generalized darkening of skin color (often referred to as bronzing)
- Joint pain
- Loss of body hair
- Loss of sexual desire
- Weight loss
The goal of treatment is to remove excess iron from the body and treat any organ damage.
A procedure called phlebotomy is the best method for removing excess iron from the body:
- One half liter of blood is removed from the body each week until the body's iron stores are depleted. This may take many months to do.
- After that, the procedure may be done less often to maintain normal iron stores.
Why the procedure is needed depends on your symptoms and levels of hemoglobin and serum ferritin and how much iron you take in your diet.
For people unable to undergo phlebotomy, medicines may be prescribed to reduce the body's iron.
Other health problems such as diabetes, decreased testosterone levels in men, arthritis, liver failure, and heart failure will be treated.
If you are diagnosed with hemochromatosis, your provider may recommend a diet to reduce how much iron is absorbed through your digestive tract. Your provider may recommend the following:
- Do not drink alcohol, especially if you have liver damage.
- Do not take iron pills or vitamins containing iron.
- Do not use iron cookware.
- Limit foods fortified with iron, such as 100% iron-fortified breakfast cereals.
- Avoid uncooked shellfish.
Gordon Mclaren is a Hematologist Oncology provider in Long Beach, California. Dr. Mclaren and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hemochromatosis. His top areas of expertise are Hemochromatosis, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Iron Deficiency Anemia, and Porphyria.
CHU Rennes
Edouard Jacquet-Bardou practices in Rennes, France. Jacquet-Bardou and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Hemochromatosis. His top areas of expertise are Hemochromatosis, Cirrhosis, Lipidosis with Triglycerid Storage Disease, Liver Cancer, and Liver Transplant.
Martina Muckenthaler practices in Heidelberg, Germany. Muckenthaler and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Hemochromatosis. Her top areas of expertise are Hemochromatosis, Hyperferritinemia-Cataract Syndrome, Anemia, and Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Untreated, iron overload can lead to liver damage.
Extra iron may also build up in other areas of the body, including the thyroid gland, testicles, pancreas, pituitary gland, heart, or joints. Early treatment can help prevent complications such as liver disease, heart disease, arthritis or diabetes.
How well you do depends on the amount of organ damage. Some organ damage can be reversed when hemochromatosis is detected early and treated aggressively with phlebotomy.
Complications include:
- Cirrhosis
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
The disease may lead to the development of:
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Heart problems
- Increased risk for certain bacterial infections
- Testicular atrophy
- Skin color changes
Contact your provider if symptoms of hemochromatosis develop.
Contact your provider for an appointment (for screening) if a family member has been diagnosed with hemochromatosis.
Screening family members of a person diagnosed with hemochromatosis may detect the disease early so that treatment can be started before organ damage has occurred in other affected relatives.
Summary: Brief Summary: \* A short description of the clinical study, including a brief statement of the clinical study's hypothesis, written in language intended for the lay public. Limit: 5000 characters. Severe forms of sickle cell syndrome are characterized by the occurrence of repeated vaso-occlusive crises (CVO), early complications and a high morbidity and mortality in these patients. Intensified ma...
Summary: According to the WHO, pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, linked to existing or potential tissue damage, or described in terms suggestive of such damage. It is a legal obligation to evaluate and take care of it (law of 03/04/2022). However, there are still areas where this is not addressed, particularly in cirrhotic patients (Piano V et al. 2023). The global prevalence of cirrh...
Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Bacon BR, Fleming RE. Hemochromatosis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 75.
Camaschella C. Disorders of iron homeostasis: iron deficiency and overload. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 37.