HAEMOCHROMATOSIS

I recently encountered a patient who had this condition, which I was previously unfamiliar with, so I did some research.

This is a hereditary disorder which involves excessive absorption and storage of iron. It is found in people of northern European descent and is particularly common amongst people of Irish ancestry and is normally a result of mutation in a specific gene.

This excessive retained iron can lead to impairment of many organs, including the heart, the liver, and pancreas.

The main features are a characteristic bronze tinge to the skin, diabetes, and liver failure.

It may be treated by removing iron from the body by way of blood letting or by administration of a chemical chelating agent