Iron Overload and Haemochromatosis

[H. Balasubramanian]

From Medical College of Wisconsin

Iron Overload and Haemochromatosis

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Hereditary Haemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans, but many people have never heard of it. In the United States, as many as one million people have evidence of the disorder, and up to one in every ten people may carry the gene for it.
In people who have Haemochromatosis, the body accumulates excess amounts of iron. This can result in serious and sometimes fatal health problems.
Early detection of Haemochromatosis is essential because the disease's potentially serious complications can be prevented by early therapy. Although a sensitive and relatively inexpensive

screening test for iron overload is available, routine medical care or checkups usually do not include Haemochromatosis testing. As a result, many cases may remain undetected. People who have a close blood relative with Haemochromatosis, as well as those who have the signs and symptoms described above, should talk with their health care provider about the possibility of being evaluated for Haemochromatosis.
The long-term health outcome for people with Haemochromatosis depends on the degree of organ damage that has already taken place by the time the patient is diagnosed with the disease. For a person who has no evident tissue or organ damage, proper management of the disease can result in a normal long-term outcome and life expectancy. For a person who has evident tissue or organ damage, further damage can be halted, but damage already incurred

may not be reversible.
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With best wishes,
H.B.
from India

visit: http://education.vsnl.com/susceptibilit ... doctor/com
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