This disease affects one in 200 or 300 people. It is generally suffered by men (in a ratio of five men for every woman), since it is more difficult for iron to accumulate in women due to menstrual losses or pregnancy.
Hemochromatosis is a disorder caused by impaired iron metabolism.
It is due to an accumulation of iron in the body and, if not diagnosed and treated correctly, can have fatal consequences on the liver, and increase the risk of death from cardiomyopathy. Iron is an essential element for the organism that, in normal physiological concentrations, is found in the body in an amount of around 4 or 5 grams, distributed in hemoglobin, the reticuloendothelial system and the liver, myoglobin, and in various enzyme systems. However, it is very harmful when it is found in larger quantities, since it generates free radicals that cause organic damage.
Different stages can be distinguished in the evolution of hemochromatosis:
Stage 1: There is a deficiency but not yet iron overload.
Stage 2: There is iron overload, but the symptoms are not specific to the disease. The patient is tired and lethargic.
Each patient has different organ damage, depending on where the iron has accumulated in their body, so they should receive treatment for the different problems they present.
The goal of hemochromatosis treatment is to eliminate excess iron concentrated in the organs and treat the organic damage that has occurred.
- Treatment for the elimination of excessive iron varies depending on the causes of the disease:
- Primary hemochromatosis
In the case of primary hemochromatosis, the treatment is phlebotomy, which consists of blood extractions, usually weekly, of about 500 ml each, until the iron level is appropriate. Treatment must be maintained for life, with regular monitoring of the patient.
- Secondary hemochromatosis
In the case of secondary hemochromatosis, the treatment is iron chelators. These are molecules that adhere to iron, forming with it a soluble substance that prevents it from having a toxic effect on the body. The most commonly used chelators are desferrioxamine, deferiprone, and deferasirox. Tea is also an iron chelator and can be taken with food.
Maintain an iron level within healthy limits, so it is recommended:
- Refrain from drinking alcohol.
- Limit consumption of red meat, liver, olives and chocolate.
- Avoid raw fish and shellfish.
- Do not take vitamin complexes that contain iron.
- Limit intake of vitamin C.
- Do not eat processed or fortified foods.
- The use of kitchen utensils made of iron should also be avoided.
It is convenient that those people in whose family there is a case of hemochromatosis carry out early detection tests for the disease so that, if they suffer from it, it can be diagnosed early and treatment started before any damage is caused.
