Synonyms Primary siderosis, hemosiderosis, siderophilia, iron storage disease English: hematochromatosis Introduction Hemochromatosis is a disease in which there is an increased absorption of iron in the upper small intestine. This increased absorption of iron causes the total iron in the body to rise from 2-6g to values up to 80g. This iron overload results in … Hemochromatosis
Symptoms The symptoms of hemochromatosis are caused by increased iron deposition in various organs, resulting in cell damage. Among other things, there are deposits in: At the beginning of the disease, the affected persons usually do not notice any symptoms or changes. Only after several years do symptoms appear for the first time. Typical are … Symptoms | Hemochromatosis
Diagnosis If hemochromatosis is symptomatically suspected, blood is taken for initial clarification and it is checked whether the transferrin saturation is above 60% and whether the serum ferritin is above 300ng/ml at the same time. Transferrin serves as an iron transporter in the blood, while ferritin takes over the function of an iron store in … Diagnosis | Hemochromatosis
Therapy The therapy of hemochromatosis consists of a reduction of body iron. This is usually achieved with the relatively old therapy of bloodletting. The bloodletting therapy consists of two phases: It is important that these bloodletting procedures take place regularly to ensure that new blood is produced evenly. Dietary measures also play an important role … Therapy | Hemochromatosis
What are the side effects of regular bloodletting? Typical side effects of bloodletting therapy are caused by the volume that the body then lacks. If these symptoms occur frequently after bloodletting, an infusion can then be given to compensate for the lost fluid. Alternatively, the bloodletting can be divided into several sessions during which less … What are the side effects of regular bloodletting? | Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis and diabetes mellitus Iron storage in hemochromatosis affects not only the liver, but many other organs as well. One of the organs affected is the pancreas, which produces the hormone insulin. Insulin is essential for sugar metabolism. The pancreas is damaged by the storage of iron, which can reduce or even stop the production … Hemochromatosis and diabetes mellitus | Hemochromatosis
History The first information about the appearance of hemochromatosis was given by a Mr. Armand Trousseau in the 19th century. He described a symptom complex consisting of liver cirrhosis, diabetes and dark skin pigmentation. 20 years later the term hemochromatosis was coined. In the 1970s, the autosomal recessive inheritance was recognized and in the 1990s … History | Hemochromatosis
Symptoms on the skin Among other things, the iron is deposited in the skin. This leads to a distinct dark coloration. In the final stage we speak of a bronze-colored skin. The armpits are particularly affected by the darkening of the skin. In addition to the increase in skin pigmentation, the hairs thin out, especially … Symptoms on the skin | Symptoms of hemochromatosis
Symptoms at the joints The joint spaces are often affected by the iron deposits, which can cause severe pain. Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms of hemochromatosis. It occurs in every third to fourth patient. Typically, the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index and middle finger on both hands are affected first. In … Symptoms at the joints | Symptoms of hemochromatosis
Diagnosis of hemochromatosis The diagnosis of hemochromatosis is mainly based on the patient’s symptoms and clinical examinations. If hemochromatosis is suspected, further measures must be taken. These consist mainly of laboratory medical examinations, which focus on certain iron values. These values are specialized proteins that transport and store iron. In addition, the absolute amount of … Diagnosis of hemochromatosis | Symptoms of hemochromatosis
Introduction Hemochromatosis is a disease in which there is an increased deposition of iron in tissue. The main symptom of hemochromatosis is enlargement of the liver. However, hemochromatosis does not only affect the liver, but can also trigger symptoms in various organs through cell damage. In the following we have listed the most important symptoms … Symptoms of hemochromatosis