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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Hereditary hemochromatosis (he-mo-kro-mah-TOE-sis), an inherited condition, causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. The excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. If you have hereditary hemochromatosis, the stored iron damages these organs, leading to life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart problems and liver disease.
Signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis usually appear in midlife, although they may occur earlier. Hereditary hemochromatosis can cause a number of signs and symptoms, including joint pain, fatigue, abdominal pain and impotence. Though not always easy to diagnose, hereditary hemochromatosis can be effectively treated by removing blood from your body to lower the level of iron.
- Bacon BR, et al. Hemochromatosis. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisinger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/linkTo?type=bookHome&isbn=978-1-4160-6189-2&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6189-2..X0001-7--TOP&uniq=200844987-3. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
- Hemochromatosis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hemochromatosis/index.htm. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
- Hemochromatosis. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/hemo/hemo_all.html. Accessed Aug. 19, 2010.
- Naqvi BH, et al. Hemochromatosis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&uniq=210978719. Accessed Aug. 17, 2010.
- Desferal (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/016267s045lbl.pdf. Accessed Aug. 19, 2010.
- Exjade (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis; 2010. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/021882s010lbl.pdf. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
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