SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
24/7 HELPLINE (903) 212-7500
  • PATIENT PORTAL LOGIN

PhyNet Health PhyNet Health

  • Home
  • Find a Clinic
    • Hughes Springs, TX
    • Longview, TX
    • Jefferson, TX
    • Kilgore, TX
    • Lindale, TX
    • Linden, TX
    • Gladewater, TX
    • Lone Star, TX
    • Tatum, TX
    • Marshall, TX
  • Health Services
    • Primary Care Services
    • Physical Therapy / Rehab
    • Allergy Testing & Treatment
    • Chronic Care Management
    • Remote Monitoring Program
    • Virtual Visit
  • Resources
    • MedlinePlus Wiki
      • Health Topics
    • Home Health Coordination
    • Transitions of Care
    • Insurance Help
  • About Phynet
    • About Phynet
    • PhyNet News
    • Better Together Stories
    • Careers
  • Billing

Health Topics

Skip navigation

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine
MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You
  • Health Topics
  • Drugs & Supplements
  • Genetics
  • Medical Tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
  • About MedlinePlus
  • About MedlinePlus
  • What's New
  • Site Map
  • Customer Support
  • Health Topics
  • Drugs & Supplements
  • Genetics
  • Medical Tests
  • Medical Encyclopedia
Español
You Are Here:
Home →
Health Topics →
Hemochromatosis
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/hemochromatosis.html

Hemochromatosis

Also called: Iron overload disease
On this page

Basics

  • Summary
  • Start Here
  • Diagnosis and Tests
  • Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

  • Genetics

See, Play and Learn

  • No links available

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Journal Articles

Resources

  • Find an Expert

For You

  • Children
  • Patient Handouts

Summary

Hemochromatosis is a disease in which too much iron builds up in your body. Your body needs iron but too much of it is toxic. If you have hemochromatosis, you absorb more iron than you need. Your body has no natural way to get rid of the extra iron. It stores it in body tissues, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas. The extra iron can damage your organs. Without treatment, it can cause your organs to fail.

There are two types of hemochromatosis. Primary hemochromatosis is an inherited disease. Secondary hemochromatosis is usually the result of something else, such as anemia, thalassemia, liver disease, or blood transfusions.

Many symptoms of hemochromatosis are similar to those of other diseases. Not everyone has symptoms. If you do, you may have joint pain, fatigue, general weakness, weight loss, and stomach pain.

Your doctor will diagnose hemochromatosis based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and the results from tests and procedures. Treatments include removing blood (and iron) from your body, medicines, and changes in your diet.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Start Here

  • Hemochromatosis (American Liver Foundation)
  • Hemochromatosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
  • Hereditary Hemochromatosis (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

  • Ferritin Blood Test From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Iron Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
  • Liver Function Tests From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

  • Iron Chelation (Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation)

Genetics

  • About Hemochromatosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Human Genome Research Institute)
  • Hereditary hemochromatosis: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)
  • Hypochromic microcytic anemia with iron overload: MedlinePlus Genetics From the National Institutes of Health (National Library of Medicine)

Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemochromatosis From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

  • Article: Risk profiling for cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in HFE hemochromatosis using...
  • Article: Identifying haemochromatosis patients with C282Y homozygosity from inpatient electronic patient records...
  • Article: Exploring the experiences of hemochromatosis (HHC) patients who undergo therapeutic venesection...
  • Hemochromatosis -- see more articles

Find an Expert

  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute From the National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases From the National Institutes of Health

Children

  • Hereditary Hemochromatosis (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

  • Ferritin blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Hemochromatosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
  • Serum iron test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

Hemochromatosis

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA

  • Ferritin blood test
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Serum iron test
  • Synovial biopsy

Related Health Topics

  • Iron

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Hemochromatosis is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

  • About MedlinePlus
  • What's New
  • Site Map
  • Customer Support
  • Subscribe to RSSRSS
  • Connect with NLM
  • NLM Web Policies
  • Copyright
  • Accessibility
  • Guidelines for Links
  • Viewers & Players
  • HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
  • MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs
  • For Developers
National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health
Last updated December 5, 2024
Return to top

Patients

  • Find a Clinic
  • Health Services
  • Complex Case Management
  • MA / Medicare Assistance

Quick Links

  • Billing Information
  • Careers
  • About Phynet
  • PhyNet News

Network Links

  • PrimeCareHomeHealth.com
  • PrimeCareNet.com
  • PrimeCareManagers.com
  • Core-Rehab.com

Home Office

4002 Technology Center Longview TX 75605
Phone: (903) 247-0484
Fax: (903) 247-0485
[email protected]
  • PrimeCareHomeHealth.com
  • PrimeCareNet.com
  • PrimeCareManagers.com
  • Core-Rehab.com
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2021 PhyNet Health • All rights reserved
YOUR LIFE. YOUR CHOICE.

TOP