Iron overload can be caused by genetic disorders, recurrent blood transfusions, excessive oral iron intake or some metabolic conditions that increase intestinal iron absorption. The primary organs affected by iron overload disorders are the liver, heart and endocrine glands. Organ damage occurs slowly and symptoms do not become apparent for years. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library notes that symptoms of iron overload are often delayed until total body iron content reaches greater than 10g.
Cirrhosis
Liver disease is the most common manifestation of disorders of iron overload, notes Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Minor symptoms are abdominal pain and liver enlargement. As irreversible liver scarring progresses to cirrhosis more severe symptoms, like abdominal swelling, recurrent infections and internal bleeding may occur.
Diabetes
A study in the journal "Metabolism" reports between 30 and 60 percent of individuals that have hereditary hemochromatosis have diabetes. Diabetes develops in people with iron overload because of impaired glucose metabolism, predominantly in the liver, and iron also accumulates in cells that secrete insulin, causing cellular damage.
Cardiomyopathy
Deterioration of the heart muscle leading to coronary heart disease has been observed in people with iron overload disorders and an article in "Gene Reviews" notes that heart disease is the most common cause of death in people with juvenile hemochromatosis. People with juvenile hemochromatosis can have more severe symptoms than those with hereditary hemochromatosis, but cardiomyopathy is also highly prevalent in this population.
Arthritis
Excess iron deposits in the joints and can cause arthritic symptoms. A study in the journal "Arthritis and Rheumatism" reports that nearly 73 percent of patients with iron overload disorders experience joint pain and 66 percent display bony enlargement.
Testicular Failure
In men, iron is deposited in the testicles and can cause impotence and shrinking of the testicles.
Skin Hyperpigmentation
Iron overload can cause hyperpigmentation of the skin by increasing melanin deposition and iron deposition.
Neurological Disorders
The Iron Overload Diseases Association says recent scientific evidence supports that iron may cause or advance the progression of certain neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
References
- The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Primary Hemochromatosis
- "Metabolism"; Effect of Iron Overload on Glucose Metabolism in Patients with Hereditary Hemochromatosis; M. Hatunic et al.; Mar. 2010
- "Arthritis and Rheumatism"; Musculoskeletal Disease Burden of Hereditary Hemochromatosis; E. Sahinbegovic et al.; Aug. 2010
- "Gene Reviews"; Juvenile Hereditary Hemochromatosis; Julie MacFarlane et al.; 2005
- Iron Overload Diseases Association: Hemochromatosis and the Brain
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