Understanding Hereditary Hemochromatosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Hereditary Hemochromatosis

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

In hereditary hemochromatosis, the body absorbs too much iron from food. Liver, heart, and pancreas are the areas where excess iron is stored. There are a number of life-threatening conditions that can result from too much iron, including liver disease, heart issues, and diabetes. Only a minority of people who have hemochromatosis develop serious symptoms because of the genes.

9 people with Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Learn from others who are experiencing Hereditary Hemochromatosis.

Signs & symptoms

Some people with hereditary hemochromatosis never have symptoms. It is common for early symptoms of this condition to overlap with those of other common conditions. Signs and symptoms: Joint pain Abdominal pain Fatigue Weakness Diabetes Loss of sex drive Impotence Heart failure Liver failure Bronze or gray skin color Memory fog

Diagnosis

The disease may be identified through abnormal blood tests done for other reasons or through screening of family members. Serum transferrin saturation. Serum ferritin. Testing for gene mutations. liver biopsy

Treatment

Blood can be removed from your body on a regular basis by doctors to treat hereditary hemochromatosis. People who are unable to undergo blood removal can receive chelation

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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