Iron Overload Disease

Iron overload disease or hemochromatosis occurs when the body absorbs too much iron which leads to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, heart and respiratory problems, decreased libido, skin discoloration and more. Generally, the symptoms appear in men between the ages of 30 and 50, and in women beginning menopause. For over a decade researchers believed hemochromatosis primarily struck Caucasians of northern European descent, though recent studies now indicate other at-risk groups.

Misconceptions

• Genes regulate iron absorption, and a mutation on the molecular level triggers organism-wide effects. In 1996, scientists identified the HFE gene as the culprit for hemochromatosis in patients with Celtic and Scandinavian ancestry, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). But now an international study led by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) shows the highest blood iron levels in Asians and Pacific Islanders---though this group carries the lowest HFE gene mutations.

Effects

• The study fails to explain why this anomaly occurs. Dr. Ronald T. Acton of UAB suggests Asians and Pacific Islanders with high levels of iron may carry a different gene mutation. Acton also speculates that the group may not slip into overload despite the higher amounts of the metal in the blood. Results from the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening (HEIRS) remain too new to make final determinations.

Identification

• Misdiagnosis of iron overload remains common, and the UAB claims patients suffer nine years on average before doctors recognize hemochromatosis. The CDC says the symptoms may indicate many diseases, making diagnosis difficult. Also, they tend to appear after organ damage, not before. Fatigue and weakness, weight loss, abdominal or joint pain all comprise early symptoms of iron overload disease. People with family histories of hemochromatosis remain most at risk.

Warning

• The Merck Manual Professional website cites that 90 percent of hemochromatics experience skin discoloration; 65 percent have diabetes or subsequent conditions; 25 to 50 percent joint disease; 20 to 30 percent liver disease and 10 to 15 percent heart disease. Reducing iron levels keeps symptoms under control and may prolong life, but fails to reverse organ damage.

Prevention/Solution

• Phlebotomy greatly decreases blood iron levels. Doctors treat hemochromatosis patients by drawing about a pint of blood once or twice per week to achieve acceptable levels. Phlebotomy treatments generally last months, but may take a year or more. Diagnosed hemochromatics avoid iron supplements and should regulate Vitamin C intake, which increases iron absorption. They should also avoid raw fish and seafood, as bacterial infections increase with iron overload.