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Iron overload (also known as haemochromatosis or hemochromatosis) is the abnormal and increased accumulation of total iron in the body, leading to organ damage. [1] The primary mechanism of organ damage is oxidative stress, as elevated intracellular iron levels increase free radical formation via the Fenton reaction.
Haemochromatosis is protean in its manifestations, i.e., often presenting with signs or symptoms suggestive of other diagnoses that affect specific organ systems.Many of the signs and symptoms below are uncommon, and most patients with the hereditary form of haemochromatosis do not show any overt signs of disease nor do they have premature morbidity, if they are diagnosed early, but, more ...
The presence of hemochromatosis may be discovered incidentally on blood testing, or a diagnosis suspected based on symptoms may be supported or ruled out by blood testing. Elevated serum ferritin , an indicator of blood iron levels, and transferrin saturation , which is involved with absorption of iron from the gut, are very common.
A recent study finds that 40% of young women and girls are deficient in iron, but their symptoms are often dismissed by some doctors.
An underdiagnosed deficiency of an essential mineral may be contributing to fatigue, brain fog and concentration problems in almost 1 in 4 adolescent girls and young women in the United States.
Over time, iron stores increase, and individuals with type 4A hemochromatosis may develop hepatic fibrosis. [3] The symptoms of type 4B hemochromatosis tend to be more severe. They resemble the symptoms of hemochromatosis types 1, 2, and 3. Plasma iron concentration is elevated, and symptoms include joint pain, diabetes, and arrhythmia.
Treatment for hemochromatosis type 3 may include reducing iron levels by removing blood (phlebotomy), iron chelation therapy, diet changes, and treatment for complications of the disease. The purpose of the treatment is to reduce the amount of iron in the body to normal levels, prevent or delay organ damage from excess iron, and maintain normal ...
Although the specific therapies patients receive may obviate the need for RBC transfusion, many MDS patients may not respond to these treatments, thus may develop secondary hemochromatosis due to iron overload from repeated transfusions. Patients with chronic iron overload can have iron deposits in their liver, heart, and endocrine glands.