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Hemochromatosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to remove excess iron from the body and treat any organ damage.

Iron removal is done by phlebotomy (removal of blood). One-half liter of blood is removed from the body each week for 2 to 3 years until the iron level is reduced. After that, less frequent phlebotomy is needed to maintain normal iron levels. How often you need this procedure depends on your symptoms and your levels of hemoglobin and serum ferritin. Phlebotomy is the most efficient method for removing excess iron from the body.

Testosterone hormone therapy can help improve the loss of sexual desire and changes in secondary sexual characteristics. Diabetes, arthritis, liver failure, and heart failure should be treated.

If you are diagnosed with hemochromatosis you must follow a special diet so your iron levels do not increase. The diet prohibits alcohol, especially for patients who have suffered liver damage. You will also be told to avoid iron pills or vitamins containing iron, vitamin supplements, iron cookware, raw seafood (cooked is fine), or fortified processed foods such as 100% iron breakfast cereals.

Expectations (prognosis):

The earlier a diagnosis is made and treatment is received, the better. If treatment is started before any organs have been affected, diseases such as liver disease, heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes can usually be prevented.

How well a person does depends on the amount of organ damage. Some organ damage can be reversed when hemochromatosis is detected early and treated aggressively with phlebotomy.

Efforts are underway to promote screening for hemochromatosis, so that diagnosis and treatment occurs earlier.

Complications:

• Liver failure
• Liver cancer

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms of hemochromatosis develop.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider (for screening) if a family member has been diagnosed with hemochromatosis.

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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