What is the treatment?

Treatment is most effective when begun early as it can successfully prevent or stop organ damage. If damage has already occurred, treatment should halt any further damage and in most cases bring about improvement. The only method of removing excess iron from the body is by removal of blood. This is by giving a blood donation and is called venesection or phlebotomy therapy. Every unit of blood removed contains 250mg of iron. The body then uses some of the excess stored tissue iron to make new blood cells which are removed in subsequent phlebotomy.  

The length of treatment depends on the amount of excess iron in the body at the time of diagnosis, which is measured by the ferritin and transferrin saturation. Treatment may mean weekly phlebotomy for one to two years or until the iron levels have been reduced to a safe level. During the treatment the serum ferritin levels are monitored, the results of these tests give a measure of the remaining iron stores. Once the initial treatment is completed and the iron levels are back to normal then they are monitored every 3 months. As they start to rise again phlebotomy is recommended. 

Treatment for Haemochromatosis is ongoing for life and may require blood to be removed once or twice yearly depending on how quickly the iron is reaccumulating. This is called maintenance therapy. Venesection treatment will allow iron tissue to be mobilized and iron stores will return to normal. However, it will not cure any clinical condition such as diabetes already present at the time treatment is started. This emphasises the importance of early diagnosis!  

Diet 

The common view is that a low iron diet is of little benefit and is not advised since considerably more iron can be removed in a single venesection.  A balanced diet is very important. The following is advised:    

  • Modest alcohol consumption
  • No iron medication or multivitamins containing iron
  • No bread or cereals with fortified iron.

What is Haemochromatosis?
What are the symptoms?
What are the tests?
How do I inherit it?
Who should be tested?