Excess iron disorder

Description

Hemochromatosis or excess iron disorder. A herediatary disorder which involves absorbtion and retaining too much iron. Surplus of iron is kept in whole body but is concentrated in liver, heart and pancreas. This abnormal iron accumulation is cause for liver failure (chirrosis), heart disease (congestive heart failures) and cancer. Treatment includes removal of the blood from the body for decrease the iron level.

Symptoms

Abdominal pain, tiredness, darker skin colour, pain in the joints, lack of energy, loss of hairs on the body, loss of sex drive, impotence, high glucose level, low level of thyroid hormones, loss of weight and weakness. Progressive disease causes liver failure, liver cancer, rapid breathing and fainting.

Overview

History of disease is being taken and physical examination is being done. Blood tests are done to determine iron level in the body. Sometimes liver biopsy is done to confirm the diagnosis. Genetical testing can detect irregular gene in case of hereditary hemochromatosis.

Tests

Complete blood count (CBC), biochemical blood analysis, electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), analysis of urine and X-rays.

Additional analyses

Serum ferritin, serum iron, serum transefrrin, liver biopsy.

Specialists

Hematology, Oncology, General Practice, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine

Therapy

Objective of the treatment is to remove a surpus of the iron from the body and treat organ damages. A blood is released from the vein (flebotomy) until iron level is decreased. At the begining most patients remove 0.5 l of blood every 1-2 weeks. Process may require several months up to several years and the level still should be kept under control. Dietary restrictions should also be respected to prevent new accumulation. Testosterone treatment may be recommended for loss of sex drive or impotence. Secundary diseases such as diabetes, arhtritis, liver or heart failure will be treated per need.