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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staff
Untreated, hereditary hemochromatosis can lead to a number of complications, especially in your joints and in organs where excess iron tends to be stored — your liver, pancreas and heart. Complications can include:
- Liver problems. Because your liver is a primary storage area for excess iron, it's especially likely to be damaged by hemochromatosis. Cirrhosis — permanent scarring of the liver — is just one of the problems that may occur. Cirrhosis increases your risk of liver cancer and other life-threatening complications.
- Pancreas problems. Hemochromatosis can damage the pancreas, which can cause diabetes.
- Heart problems. Hemochromatosis can cause excess iron in your heart, which affects the heart's ability to circulate enough blood for your body's needs. This is called congestive heart failure. Hemochromatosis can also cause abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Arrhythmias can cause heart palpitations, chest pain and lightheadedness.
- Skin color changes. Deposits of iron in skin cells can make your skin appear bronze or gray in color.
References
- 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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