HEMOCHROMATOSIS

TYPES

• Hemochromatosis type 1 
• Hemochromatosis type 2
• Hemochromatosis type 3 
• Hemochromatosis type 4

SYMPTOMS

Some persons with hemochromatosis do not exhibit any signs. Early indications and signs of this disorder may coincide with other prevalent diseases. Among the signs and symptoms are:

• Joint discomfort
• Pain in the abdomen
• Exhaustion
• Weakness
• Memory fog
• Diabetes
• Loss of sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction
• Heart failure
• Gray or bronze skin tone
• Liver failure

Hemochromatosis is inherited and manifests itself at birth. However, most individuals don’t notice symptoms until adulthood, usually around the age of 40 for males and 60 for women.

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosing hereditary hemochromatosis might be challenging. Symptoms like stiff joints and weariness could be caused by something other than hemochromatosis. Yet, there are two types of blood tests that can aid in the diagnosis of the condition:

• Serum transferrin saturation. This test determines the quantity of iron linked to a protein in your blood that transports iron.
• Serum ferritin. This test determines how much iron is accumulated in your liver. If your serum transferrin saturation testing results are greater than expected, your physician will evaluate your serum ferritin.

TREATMENT

Physicians can efficiently and safely cure hereditary hemochromatosis by extracting blood from your body on a consistent schedule, exactly as you were donating blood.

• Initial treatment plan. Typically, a pint of blood may be drawn once or twice a week, generally in a hospital or health clinic. A syringe is put into a vein in the arm while reclined in a chair.
• Maintenance treatment plan. Once your iron levels have recovered to average, you can have blood taken less frequently, usually every three months. Many individuals may maintain appropriate iron levels without getting any blood drawn, while others may require blood removal regularly.

Blood is removed from your body on a routine basis as part of treatment. Since red blood cells carry a large portion of iron, this therapy reduces iron levels.