THE LIVER
The liver is the largest organ in the body. It is found high in the right upper abdomen, behind the ribs. It is a very complex organ and has many functions. They include:
1. Storing energy in the form of sugar (glucose)
2. Storing vitamins, iron, and other minerals
3. Making proteins, including blood clotting factors, to keep the body healthy and help it grow
4. Processing worn out red blood cells
5. Making bile which is needed for food digestion
6. Metabolizing or breaking down many medications and alcohol
7. Killing germs that enter the body through the intestine
The liver shoulders a heavy workload for the body and almost never complains. It even has a remarkable power to regenerate itself. Still it should not be taken for granted. Certain conditions that develop, such as fatty liver and steatohepatitis, may be signs of liver injury that can lead to permanent liver damage.
WHAT IS HEMOCHROMATOSIS?
Hemochromatosis is commonly known as iron overload disease. A malfunction in the way iron is absorbed from the intestinal tract causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. Certain vitamins and minerals are normally stored in the liver, and iron is one of them. However, too much iron stored in the liver can damage it. With hemochromatosis, excess iron is also deposited in other organs and tissues, especially the heart and pancreas, causing damage to these organs, too. This disease occurs more commonly than was originally thought. It is estimated that hemochromatosis affects about one in every 300-400 people. Occasionally, a secondary type of iron overload (called hemosiderosis) occurs in people who take large amounts of iron supplements, or in people who must have repeated blood transfusions, or who have certain other diseases. However, the body usually returns to normal processing of iron when the excess intake is eliminated.
CAUSE
Exactly what makes the body absorb and store too much iron is not completely understood. It is known that major hemochromatosis cause is inheritance. The gene for the disease is a very common one; about one in every 10 people carry it. However, a person can carry one gene and not get the disease. It is only when a person gets a hemochromatosis gene from each parent — a double dose — that the disease develops. Therefore, people who have parents, brothers, or sisters with this disease should be closely monitored by a physician.
SYMPTOMS
There are usually no hemochromatosis symptoms that are noticeable to the patient. In fact, fatty liver is frequently uncovered during a routine physical examination. There may be a rise in certain liver enzymes found in the blood, and sometimes the liver is slightly enlarged. Fatty liver may also be discovered while the physician is evaluating a patient for other illnesses. For example, an ultrasound exam of the abdomen done for other reasons may show fat in the liver. To be certain of a diagnosis of fatty liver, the physician may recommend a liver biopsy. Under local anesthesia, a slender needle is inserted through the right lower chest. A small piece of liver tissue is taken out with the needle and examined under a microscope.
DIAGNOSIS
Early diagnosis is important, because treatment can prevent long-term injury and damage to body organs. When there is a family history of hemochromatosis, and especially if there are symptoms present, the physician will order certain blood tests. One of the tests is a measure of iron in the blood. Another is for blood ferritin, a protein that carries iron. With hemochromatosis, these tests will be abnormally high. When the blood tests are repeated and the results are consistently high, the physician usually diagnoses hemochromatosis. A liver biopsy is then performed to determine how much iron is stored in the liver and if there has been any liver damage. Liver biopsy is done under local anesthesia. A slender needle is inserted through the right lower chest to extract a small piece of liver for microscopic analysis.
TREATMENT
Red blood cells are rich in iron, so their removal will reduce the amount of iron in the body. Hemochromatosis treatment begins with one to two pints of blood being removed each week or so, until stored iron is reduced to normal levels. It may take several months or longer to accomplish this. After iron stores are reduced to normal, the patient should continue to have blood drawn periodically.
Complications of hemochromatosis, such as arthritis, hormone deficiency, heart failure, and diabetes, can be treated successfully in most cases. If these complications have already occurred in the patient, regular treatment with blood withdrawal should still be done. At this stage, it can prevent further harm and may even improve some of the damage.
HOW CAN THE PATIENT HELP?
Alcohol seems to make the problem worse, so people with hemochromatosis should avoid alcohol or have only an occasional drink. A regular balanced diet is recommended, but patients should avoid large quantities of iron rich foods, such as red meats (especially liver) and iron fortified food products. Iron supplements should never be taken. Even small amounts of iron present in some multivitamin preparations can be harmful.
LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Liver transplantation is now an accepted form of treatment for chronic, severe liver damage. Advances in surgical techniques and the use of new drugs to suppress rejection have improved the success rate of transplantation. The outcome is excellent for hemochromatosis patients, and with the slow progression of this disease, it is possible to plan elective transplant surgery. Survival rates at transplant centers are well over 90 percent with a good quality of life after recovery.
SUMMARY
Hemochromatosis is a common inherited disease that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. People with a family history of the disease should be tested early, because symptoms which can signal organ damage usually do not occur until late in the disease. Hemochromatosis can be controlled, and complications can be avoided or treated. Those patients who are diagnosed early can look forward to a completely normal and active life.
We provide proper treatment for hemochromatosis in convenient location of Riverdale New Jersey.
