Can you have high iron without having hemochromatosis?
Dysmetabolic Hyperferritinemia: All Iron Overload Is Not Hemochromatosis. Makker J.
How do I get rid of iron overload?
Iron chelation therapy involves taking oral or injected medicine to remove excess iron from the body. Medications can include a drug that binds the excess iron before the body excretes it. Although doctors do not tend to recommend this as a first-line treatment for hemochromatosis, it may be suitable for some people.
Does high iron always mean hemochromatosis?
Over a period of years, the stored iron can cause severe damage that may lead to organ failure and chronic diseases, such as cirrhosis, diabetes and heart failure. Though many people have faulty genes that cause hemochromatosis, not everyone develops iron overload to a degree that causes tissue and organ damage.
Can iron overload be fixed?
Although it can cause serious problems, it’s very treatable, especially when identified early. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of hemochromatosis or a family history of it. Genetic testing can identify the disease early so you can live a long, healthy life.
Can high iron levels return to normal?
Some people may maintain normal iron levels without having any blood taken, and some may need to have blood removed monthly. The schedule depends on how rapidly iron accumulates in your body.
How often do you need phlebotomy for hemochromatosis?
The most common treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis is removal of blood (phlebotomy), which lowers the iron level. Blood removal is similar to the process of donating blood. It is usually done once per week until the iron levels are normal. This may require 9 to 12 months of weekly blood removal.
What is considered a dangerously high ferritin level?
Many laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal.