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Hemochromatosis
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Accumulation of iron in the body
- Most commonly due to hereditary hemochromatosis (HHC) or iron overload from transfusion
- Hereditary hemochromatosis most common in people of Celtic ancestry
- AKA "bronze diabetes"
Clinical Features
- Cirrhosis
- Diabetes due to iron deposition in pancreatic beta cells
- Cardiomyopathy
- Arthritis: knuckles of the second and third fingers most common
- Bronzing of the skin
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
- Serum ferritin:
- >300 ng/mL in males and postmenopausal women
- >150 - 200 ng/mL in premenopausal women
Management
- Phlebotomy
- Chelation with deferoxamine
