Information on Blood Disorders: Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is a genetic blood disorder that can be passed from parent to child. Simply put, it is when there is an excess amount of iron absorbed and stored in the body, which can cause organ damage and/or death if left undiagnosed or treated.

Hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic disorder in the United States, primarily affecting Caucasians, although other ethnic groups can be affected. Both men and women can inherit the disease, but it is generally diagnosed at an earlier age in men. For men, diagnosis usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 50, whereas for women it is not usually until the age of 50. This is because menstration is a natural way for women's bodies to rid excess iron, and it is not until menopause that symptoms emerge.

The most common symptom of the disorder is joint pain, which can easily be diagnosed as arthritis. Other symptoms can include: fatigue, loss of sexual desire, abdominal pain, lethargy and heart problems. If left undiagnosed or treated, this allows excess levels of iron to accumulate in body tissues and serious problems can arise such as early menopause, thyroid deficiency, liver disease, heart abnormalities, and pancreatic damage to name a few.

This is an easily diagnosed disorder; a thorough medical history and some routine blood testing can easily rule out other conditions that may be causing symptoms. However, hemochromatosis is considered rare and many providers do not think to test for it, unless the patient knows to ask for it. In cases such as this, many providers concentrate on and treat the individual symptoms rather than the underlying cause of them all.

Treatment of the disease is inexpensive and easy. Most of the time, theraputic phlebotomy is the answer, meaning a patient has their blood drawn every so often just as a way to remove excess iron in the body. If phlebotomy is not an option, some medicines may be used to rid the body of excess amounts of iron. If treatment begins before damage to the organs occurs, most associated conditions (liver disease, heart disease, diabetes) can be prevented. People who have been diagnosed with hemorchromatosis should not take iron or Vitamin C supplements. In addition to that, those who have hemochromatosis and also have liver damage should not eat raw seafood or consume alcohol as these things may cause further damage.

Most family practioners can diagnose and treat hemochromatosis, but often a more specialized doctor is called in to oversee, such as a hemotologist (blood disorders), gastroenterologist (digestive disorders), or a hepatologist (liver disorders). If there are other health issues associated with hemochromatosis, a battary of specialists may be called in addition to those listed above, which may include an endocrinologist (gland disorders), cardiologist (heart disorders), or rheumatologist (arthritis disorders).