Hemochromatosis is a health disorder that happens when the body builds up too much iron. This excess iron can be stored in the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, or joints. Iron in high levels is toxic to the body, and the impacted organs will eventually begin to suffer damage. There are various secondary health conditions that often develop in patients due to Hemochromatosis, such as arthritis, cirrhosis, cancers, and heart problems.
The most common symptoms of this condition are:
Many people with this condition do not experience symptoms until they reach a certain age. In men, symptoms tend to be expressed between the ages of 30 and 50. Women might not experience symptoms until they are over 50 or have experienced menopause. Some people are not aware that they have this health condition until they begin to experience the secondary conditions that it can cause.
In these cases, someone might be diagnosed when they are being treated for abnormal heart rhythm, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, liver health issues, or diabetes.
There are two types of Hemochromatosis.
This kind of Hemochromatosis is hereditary. In this version of Hemochromatosis, the condition is inherited from your parents.
Secondary Hemochromatosis is caused by other conditions that might be impacting a person’s health. Those who have liver disease, get a lot of blood transfusions or have certain types of anaemia are at risk for the secondary version of this condition.
Hemochromatosis happens when the body has an excess of iron that is not properly absorbed and processed in the intestines. This means that the iron has to be stored elsewhere in the body. Which can lead to organ damage and secondary health problems in those who suffer from the condition.
The risk factors for this condition are:
Diagnosis of Hemochromatosis can be difficult because so many patients do not experience symptoms related to the condition for so many years. It can be wise to ask your doctor about your risk for this condition if you have liver disease, anaemia, or get a lot of blood transfusions. You might also want to inquire about the condition if you have family members who have Hemochromatosis.
For those who are already experiencing symptoms, diagnosis requires that a full medical history is taken. Blood tests such as transferrin saturation tests look at how much iron is attached to the proteins in the blood can also be done. Another blood test that can be used to diagnose this condition is a serum ferritin test. This test measures the ferritin in the blood, which is a protein that stores iron.
For those with liver complications, a liver biopsy might be needed. In some cases, an MRI can be of use to verify the health and condition of the organs.
The treatment for this condition is to remove the excess blood in the body that is leading to the iron build-up. Blood removal treatment has two stages. The initial stage is done to remove enough blood to get your iron levels back to normal. Patients might have a pint removed at each treatment at this stage. Then, once this stage has been completed, maintenance blood removal will be done. The rate at which iron builds back up in your blood will dictate how often you need to have blood taken during the maintenance phase.
It can take a year or more for patients to be able to move to the maintenance phase of this treatment plan. Complications might be prevented through annual blood tests, dietary changes to avoid multivitamins and iron chelation therapy. Patients should not drink alcohol to protect their liver, and they should take steps to try to prevent getting infections.
You cannot prevent the onset of this condition in most cases. Patients who have been diagnosed with it can take these steps along with following a treatment protocol prescribed by a doctor to help prevent flares of the condition.