There are two types of hemochromatosis. Hereditary haemochromatosis (or hemochromatosis) is a genetic disorder characterized by excessive intestinal absorption of dietary iron, resulting in a pathological increase in total body iron stores. We analyzed the associations of serum iron measures and antioxidant concentrations with abnormal serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity in a large, national, population-based study. Your doctor may suggest that you change your diet if you have hemochromatosis. If you have hemochromatosis, you absorb more iron than you need. If you have hemochromatosis, liver function tests may show the severity of the disease. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation, Get the latest public health information from CDC, Get the latest research information from NIH, Get the latest information and resources from NHLBI, NIH staff guidance on coronavirus (NIH Only), Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity, NHLBI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement, Customer Service/Center for Health Information, Atransferrinemia and aceruloplasminemia—both are rare, inherited diseases, Chronic liver diseases, such as chronic hepatitis C infection, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, Oral iron pills or iron injections, with or without very high vitamin C intake (vitamin C helps your body absorb iron), Liver disease, including an enlarged liver, liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), Diabetes, especially in people who have a family history of diabetes, Joint damage and pain, including arthritis, Reproductive organ failure, such as erectile dysfunction (impotence), shrinkage of the testicles, and loss of sex drive in men, and absence of the menstrual cycle and early menopause in women, Changes in skin color that make the skin look gray or bronze, Hematologists (blood disease specialists), Endocrinologists (gland system specialists), Gastroenterologists (digestive tract specialists), Rheumatologists (specialists in diseases of the joints and tissues). In hemochromatosis, the amount of iron in your body may be too high, even though the level of iron in your blood is normal. The procedure usually is quick and easy, although it may cause some short-term discomfort. The outlook for people who have hemochromatosis largely depends on how much organ damage has already occurred at the time of diagnosis. The goals of treating hemochromatosis include: Therapeutic phlebotomy is a procedure that removes blood (and iron) from your body. If you inherit one faulty HFE gene and one normal HFE gene, you're a hemochromatosis "carrier." Early diagnosis and therapeutic phlebotomy to maintain low normal body stores is crucial and can prevent all known complications of hemochromatosis. Learn more about causes, screening and prevention, signs and symptoms, complications, diagnoses, treatments, and how to participate in clinical trials. The American Red Cross routinely checks your hemoglobin before each blood and platelet donation. Hereditary haemochromatosis (HHC) is an heterogeneous group of disorders related to deficiency of the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin. There are a small number of reinfections reported in the literature to date, and it may take much more time for … A serum ferritin level test shows how much iron is stored in your body's organs. Common signs and symptoms of hemochromatosis include joint pain, fatigue, general weakness, weight loss, and stomach pain. Hemochromatosis is a condition in which your body stores too much iron. The guidelines are intended to give an understanding of a clinical problem, and outline one or more preferred approaches to the investigation and management of the problem. Joining a patient support group may help you adjust to living with hemochromatosis. An autosomal-recessive disorder; common presenting features include fatigue and arthralgias. The severity of hemochromatosis also varies. Iron is a mineral found in many foods. 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