While iron is an essential element necessary for carrying oxygen to cells, having too much iron stored in your liver or in your bloodstream can have serious effects on your health. Frequent blood transfusions can lead to hemosiderosis, also known as chronic transfusional iron overload or secondary hematochromatosis. You should not take supplements containing additional iron if you already have a high iron count from blood transfusions unless your medical practitioner specifically recommends them.
Determination
A blood test can determine whether you have iron overload. A serum ferritin level of over 1,000 microgram/L. Liver biopsy can also determine if you have iron overload; a concentration of more than 7 mg Fe/g dry weight indicates hemosiderosis, according to the Oncology Nursing Society.
Iron Storage
Excess iron is stored in your liver, heart and pancreas. Because iron is stored until needed, getting more iron than you need results in excess iron build-up. Your body has no way to rid itself of excess iron. If you keep taking extra iron, iron stores can build up to dangerous levels, damaging the organs where iron is stored. Each unit of blood contains around 250 mg of iron. As few as 10 whole blood transfusions or 20 red blood cell transfusions over the course of your lifetime can cause hemosiderosis, the ONS states.
Symptoms and Risks
Having too much iron in your liver can increase your risk of developing liver disease, including liver failure, cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Other potential complications of high iron levels include arthritis, diabetes, heart problems and severe fatigue. Symptoms of elevated iron levels include weight loss, fatigue, joint pain, a bronze or grayish coloration to the skin, weakness, abdominal pain, decreased sexual desire, infertility, hypothyroidism and loss of body hair. In men, testicular atrophy and impotence can occur.
Considerations
Frequent blood transfusion of red blood cells can greatly increase your iron stores. You may need to restrict dietary iron in addition to avoiding all sources of additional iron of supplements. Iron overload can be fatal for people who receive frequent transfusion; iron overload is one of the 10 most frequent finding in people who die of sickle cell disease, the ONS reports. Oral or intravenous drugs can be given to remove excess iron.
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