Iron Overload

Overview

Iron overload is a condition where a person has an iron level in the blood more than the normal range. If left untreated it is able to cause various condition damaging many organs in the body.

Signs and Symptoms

Chronic fatigue, Joint pain, Abdominal pain, Liver disease (cirrhosis, liver cancer), Diabetes mellitus, I rregular heart rhythm, Heart attack or heart failure, Skin color changes (bronze, ashen-gray green), Loss of period, Loss of interest in sex, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Hair loss, Enlarged liver or spleen, Impotence, Infertility, Hypogonadism, Hypothyroidism, Hypopituitarism

Common Causes

Gene mutations, Family History

Risk Factors

Ethnicity (Northern European), Men

Investigation Techniques

Serum transferrin saturation, Serum ferritin, Iron study, Complete blood test, Liver function tests, MRI, Testing for gene mutations, Liver biopsy

Treatment and Prevention

Avoid iron rich diet , Chelation , Blood removal