The liver is responsible for metabolizing a number of different compounds, including fats. Fat accumulation in the liver is often a sign of liver damage or stress. Hemochromatosis is a condition in which iron becomes deposited in the liver and other tissues. It can cause permanent liver damage if not treated.
Fatty Liver Defined
A fatty liver, also known as steatosis, is caused by fats accumulating in the liver, though it is not caused by excessive fat intake. It can be due to the body producing too much fat or the liver being unable to process and metabolize fats effectively. Although the accumulation of fat in the liver is not dangerous on its own, it can be an early sign of liver scarring or inflammation.
Hemochromatosis Defined
One potential cause of a fatty liver is hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis is a condition in which iron becomes deposited in tissues throughout the body. Because of the liver's role in filtering through the blood, it is often one of the first places where excess iron gets deposited. Because the deposited iron cannot be broken down and eliminated from the liver tissue, it eventually accumulates to toxic levels and causes inflammation and liver stress, which can result in a fatty liver.
Hemochromatosis Causes
Hemochromatosis is caused by a genetic mutation that causes the intestines too absorb too much iron from the diet. Normally you absorb only about 10 percent of the iron from your diet. If you have hemochromatosis, you can absorb up to 30 percent of your dietary iron, resulting in an excess of iron in your body. To develop hemochromatosis, you need to have two defective copies of the HFE gene. Iron overload can also be caused by excessive iron intake or repeated blood transfusions, but this condition is called hemosiderosis.
Treatment
The most common treatment for hemochromatosis is known as a phlebotomy, which is essentially blood letting. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. By removing blood from your body, you can increase your body's need for iron, which helps prevent excess iron from accumulating in the liver and other tissues. If hemochromatosis is diagnosed and treated in the early stages, before significant liver scarring and inflammation has occurred, the liver will eventually return to normal. If cirrhosis has already occurred, your risk of liver cancer will increase and you may have permanent liver dysfunction.
