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Hemochromatosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Symptoms:

• Joint pain
• Fatigue
• Lack of energy
• Weight loss
• Generalized darkening of skin color (often referred to as bronzing)
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of sexual desire
• Testicular atrophy
• Loss of body hair
• Weakness
• Heart problems
• Symptoms related to the onset of diabetes

Signs and tests:

A physical examination shows an enlarged liver, enlarged spleen , and skin color changes.

Blood tests may help make the diagnosis. These include:

• Serum iron (high)
• TIBC (reduced)
• Serum ferritin (high)
• Percentage of transferrin saturation (high)

The diagnosis may be confirmed with a liver biopsy or phlebotomy, a procedure that removes blood to lower the amount of iron in the body.

Recently, genetic defects have been found in some families with a history of hemochromatosis. Blood tests can be used to look for these genetic changes and confirm the diagnosis of hemochromatosis, as well as determine who may be at high risk of developing the disease.

Other tests may include liver function tests (LFT), CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, biphasic helical CAT scan, alpha fetoprotein, PIVKA-II, glucose, hepatitis screening, and ECG.

References:

Kumar V, Abbas AK, Fausto N. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease . 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005:908-910.

• Review Date: 9/22/2006
• Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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