What is hemochromatosis?

4 May 2021

It is a hereditary pathology characterized by absorbing large amounts of iron from the food consumed, which accumulates primarily in certain organs, causing chronic heart, liver, and pancreatic conditions that can put your health at serious risk.

The main cause of the development of hemochromatosis is if there is an abnormality in the gene responsible for controlling the absorption of iron.

Hemochromatosis is classified into:

Hereditary: it is the most common. Symptoms usually appear in adulthood.
Juvenile: it causes the same symptoms as the hereditary, but it appears earlier.
Neonatal: a serious autoimmune disorder in which iron accumulates rapidly in the liver of the unborn baby.
Secondary: it is the only non-hereditary and arises from anemia or chronic liver diseases that require blood transfusions.

The main risk factors for hemochromatosis are liver disease or hemolytic anemia, being male, or having a close relative (mother, father, or brother) with this condition.

Signs and symptoms Hemochromatosis

Although some people with hereditary hemochromatosis may not have symptoms, these are characterized by:

Weakness.
Diabetes.
Abdominal pain.
Tiredness.
Sexual impotence.
Heart and liver failure.
Loss of sexual desire.
Aching joints.
Tan or grayish skin color.
Memory problems.

Possible complications of hemochromatosis include:

Progressive osteoarthritis.
Osteoporosis.
Arrhythmia.
Heart failure.
Cirrhosis.
Hepatocarcinoma.
Diabetes.
Hypogonadism.
Hypothyroidism.

Diagnosis and treatment Hemochromatosis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request blood and genetic tests to find out if you have mutations in your HFE gene. If it’s confirmed, no further tests will be needed, but if there’s no genetic evidence, they’ll order a liver biopsy, liver function tests, and an MRI.

When hemochromatosis is diagnosed early, expectations are high and the patient can lead a normal life with regular blood draws or certain medications that help balance iron levels in the body and control symptoms.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Hemochromatosis

Cancer Center
Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cun.es
medlineplus.gov
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
cigna.com
medigraphic.com
Sandoval-Garín, Nadia; Zárate-Mondragón FE. Actualización en la hemocromatosis neonatal. Acta Pediatr Mex. 2021;42(6):294-304.
Murillo-Godínez G. Hemocromatosis. Med Int Mex. 2019;35(6):896-905.
Santana HEE. Hemocromatosis tipo 1. Informe de caso. Acta Med Cent. 2019;13(3):422-427.
Fernández DND, Forrellat BM, Valledor TR, et al. Hemocromatosis hereditaria tipo I: a propósito de cuatro casos confirmados. Rev Cubana Hematol Inmunol Hemoter. 2014;30(1):59-67.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is hemochromatosis?

Signs and symptoms Hemochromatosis

Diagnosis and treatment Hemochromatosis

Related centers and departments Hemochromatosis

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Hemochromatosis