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Hemochromatosis Why You Need to be Aware of this Disease

Author: PeterWhittington Total views: 9 Word Count: 608

Hemochromatosis gets its name from "hemo" for blood and "chroma" for colour, referring to the characteristic bronze skin tone caused by iron overload. It is a genetic disease that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. Skin tone is not a reliable indicator for hemochromatosis as many sufferers do not exhibit the bronze colouration.

The disease causes excess iron storage in several organs of the body including the liver, heart, skin, pancreas, endocrine glands, joints, and intestinal lining. This iron build-up can lead to serious complications. Hemochromatosis is associated with reduced life span, hepatic cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, diabetes mellitus, other endocrinopathy, arthropathy and cardiomyopathy.

It is believed that hemochromatosis causes about 5% of cirrhosis cases. These patients who have hereditary hemochromatosis induced cirrhosis have a 20% chance of developing diabetes. A number of complications can result from cirrhosis and it can ultimately lead to developing liver cancer, liver failure or death. People with hereditary hemochromatosis who also have chronic hepatitis or are alcoholics may have greater complications and worse liver disease.

Hemochromatosis is often undiagnosed and untreated. It is considered rare and doctors may not think to test for it. Hemochromatosis is manageable when detected early but usually by the time symptoms become evident, severe organ damage has already occurred. Because symptoms develop only after tissue injury, diagnosis before symptoms develop is desirable.

Many people have no symptoms when they are diagnosed with hemochromatosis and are unaware of their condition. Hemochromatosis symptoms can mimic the symptoms of many other diseases and the initial symptoms of the disease can be diverse and vague.

Symptoms are often exhibited by men between the ages of 30 and 50 and in women over 50, but some patients may develop problems as early as 20. When the body has stored 20 grams or more of iron, symptoms of hemochromatosis become evident. This may take up 4 to 6 decades. As females lose iron through menstrual blood loss, they develop organ damage from iron accumulation 15 to 20 years later than men on average.

However, hereditary hemochromatosis should not be considered a disease of older people or men. Iron build-up is often present and silently causing problems long before symptoms occur, in men, women, adolescents, and in rare cases, children.

There are two forms of the disease that are not caused by an HFE defect, juvenile hemochromatosis and neonatal hemochromatosis. Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 30 can suffer from the juvenile form. It leads to severe iron overload and liver and heart disease. The neonatal form causes rapid iron build-up in an infant's liver which can lead to death.

Hereditary hemochromatosis treatment is life-long. It is done by phlebotomy (removing blood) from the patient in order to lower the level of iron. During the initial de-ironing phase when the iron levels have to be reduced to normal, the patients have frequent phlebotomy until the iron stores are depleted. When the iron levels return to normal, treatment may only be several times a year. If treatment is begun in time, the patient will return to a normal life span and most if not all of the symptoms will be reversed.

With 1 in 10 of the population being a carrier, and 1 in every 200 to 300 being a sufferer, a significant percentage of the population is at risk from hemochromatosis. This worldwide genetic disorder has a high incidence in populations of Northern European origins. It is important that you get tested if you have a family history of the disease. Fortunately with increased awareness this is now happening. It is important to diagnose hemochromatosis early as it can be treated easily.

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About the Author

Hemochromatosis -Too much iron is destroying the health of millions. Most people, including doctors, do not know of this condition. For more Iron Overload Information, visit Dr Chris Whittington's site. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.

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