Hemochromatosis Summary Hemochromatosis is a disease in which too much iron builds up in your body. Your body needs iron but too much of it is toxic. If you have hemochromatosis, you absorb more iron than you need. Your body has no natural way to get rid of the extra iron. It stores it in body tissues, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas. The extra iron can damage your organs. Without treatment, it can cause your organs to fail. There are two types of hemochromatosis. Primary hemochromatosis is an inherited disease. Secondary hemochromatosis is usually the result of something else, such as anemia, thalassemia, liver disease, or blood transfusions. Many symptoms of hemochromatosis are similar to those of other diseases. Not everyone has symptoms. If you do, you may have joint pain, fatigue, general weakness, weight loss, and stomach pain. Your doctor will diagnose hemochromatosis based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and the results from tests and procedures. Treatments include removing blood (and iron) from your body, medicines, and changes in your diet. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemochromatosis National Institutes of Health Array Ferritin blood test Hemochromatosis Serum iron test Diagnosis and Tests Ferritin Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry How Is Hemochromatosis Diagnosed? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Iron Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry MedlinePlus: Liver Function Tests National Library of Medicine TIBC, UIBC and Transferrin American Association for Clinical Chemistry Genetics Genetics Home Reference: hereditary hemochromatosis National Library of Medicine Learning about Hereditary Hemochromatosis National Human Genome Research Institute Patient Handouts Hemochromatosis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Start Here Hemochromatosis American Liver Foundation Hemochromatosis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Hemochromatosis National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Hereditary Hemochromatosis American Academy of Family Physicians Children Hereditary Hemochromatosis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Treatments and Therapies How Is Hemochromatosis Treated? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Iron Chelation Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation Living With Living with Hemochromatosis National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Find an Expert National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Journal Articles Hemochromatosis Encyclopedia Synovial biopsy Symptoms What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hemochromatosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Specifics What Causes Hemochromatosis? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Videos and Tutorials What Is Hemochromatosis? Dolan DNA Learning Center
