What are the cardinal manifestations of hemochromatosis?

What is haemochromatosis ?

It is an iron storage disease that is characterised by increased Intestinal iron absorption.There is deposition of iron in parenchymal cels with tissue damage -The disease is clinically manifested as the following

• Excessive skin pigmentation (due to increased melanin and iron .Melanin is responsible for bronzing of skin
• Diabetes mellitus (bronze diabetes)
• Arthropathy
• Cardiac involvement- Congestive cardia faiure or cardiomyopathy
• Hepatic involvement - Cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatocellular failure
• Loss of libido and testicular atrophy.

What are the cause of death in Hemochromatosis

• CCF
• Hepatocellular failure
• Hepatocellular carcinoma

What is the treatment of hemochromatosis

• Phlebotomy.
• Iron chelation by desferrioxamme.
• Treatment of CCF. hepato-cellular failure .diabetes mellilus etc.