Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is an iron overload disorder which causes an accumulation of iron in the tissues of the body. This iron accumulation can lead to organ damage. This often affects the liver, the heart and the pancreas.

There are several types of Hemochromatosis. Primary Hemochromatosis is the hereditary version of this disease. Secondary Hemochromatosis is caused due to other disorders including anemia and alcoholism. Juvenile Hemochromatosis strikes people between the ages of 15 and 30, while Neo Natal Hemochromatosis causes the overload of iron in a baby’s liver which might even lead to death.

Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin and it performs the function of attracting the oxygen which is then transported to the various tissues of the body. Too much iron causes the damage of the body’s organs where excessive iron is stored.

Often Hemochromatosis can be inherited from either or both of the parents. Those who inherit the defective gene from only one parent become carriers of the disease. The other versions of Hemochromatosis are caused due to the mutation of the gene called ‘hemojuvelin’.

There are often no particular symptoms for Hemochromatosis, apart from a complaint of joint pain. If not detected and treated early, several other iron overload symptoms may manifest in the patient. These are:

• Arthritis.
• Heart Problems such as Irregular Heart Rhythms, or Congestive Heart Failure.
• Diseases of the Liver such as Liver Enlargement, Liver Cirrhosis, Liver Failure, and Liver Cancer.
• Damage to the Pancreas, which may even lead to Diabetes.
• Damage to the Adrenal Glands.
  Deficiency of Thyroid.
• Abnormal skin pigmentation, which makes the skin color gray or bronze.
• Impotence.
• Early Menopause.

The treatment of Hemochromatosis is relatively simple. In the first step, the excessive iron is removed from the body via blood removal. This is called ‘Phlebotomy’. The blood is removed in the same manner in which one donates blood. This is done once or twice a week.

Once the iron levels become normal, then the next step involves maintaining these normal iron levels. This involves donating blood once every 2 to 4 months on a regular basis.

For people whose organs have been damaged, there are other forms of treatment as well. But the degree of cure depends upon the severity of the organ damage.