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Diseases » Hemochromatosis » Glossary

Glossary for Hemochromatosis

Abdominal Pain: A condition which is characterized by the sensation of pain that is located in the abdomen
Acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anaemia: A rare disorder where iron is transported into a developing blood cells but because it is unable to be used, it builds up within the cell and tends to stop it from developing into a fully functioning red blood cell. Thus anemia can occur despite adequate or even high iron levels. Acquired cases can occur on exposure to excess alcohol, lead and drugs or can occur to nutritional problems involving a deficiency of folic acid or copper or an excess of zinc. The condition can also be caused by conditions such as kidney problems, endocrine dysfunction, metabolic disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and leukemia.
Adrenal gland symptoms: Symptoms affecting the adrenal glands
Alopecia: Various types of hair loss or balding
Alpha thalassemia: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin consists of two main protein chains called ? and ?. Alpha thalassemia involves defects in one or more of the four genes required to make each ? protein chain. The main symptom is anemia, the severity of which can vary amongst patients depending on how many defective genes are involved.
Alpha thalassemia - Hemoglobin H disease: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin consists of two main protein chains called ? and ?. Hemoglobin H disease involves defects in three of the four genes required to make each ? protein chain. The main symptom is moderate to severe anemia.
Alpha thalassemia major: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin consists of two main protein chains called ? and ?. Alpha thalassemia major is very rare involves defects in all of the four genes required to make each ? protein chain. The condition leads to infant death before or soon after birth.
Arthritis: General name for any type of joint inflammation, but often means age-related osteoarthritis.
Ascites: Fluid accumulation in abdominal cavity
Beta Thalassemia intermedia: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin. There are two subtypes of the disorder (? and ?) depending on what portion of the hemoglobin is abnormally synthesized. Beta Thalassemia intermedia involves defects in both of the two genes required to make each ? protein chain. The condition causes varying degrees of moderate anemia.
Beta thalassemia: Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal synthesis of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin consists of two main protein chains called ? and ?. Beta thalassemia involves defects in one or more of the two genes required to make each ? protein chain. The main symptom is anemia, the severity of which can vary amongst patients depending on how many defective genes are involved.
Blood conditions: Conditions that affect the blood
Breast tenderness: A feeling of tenderness located anatomically in the breast
Bronze skin: Bronzed skin that is seen best at pressure points such as elbows and knees.
Cardiomyopathy: Any disease of the heart muscle
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Severe chronic fatigue disorder often following infection.
Chronic liver disease: Any form of chronic liver disease
Cirrhosis of liver: Chronic liver disease wherein normal liver parenchyma is replaced by fibrous tissue.
Cirrhosis of the liver: Scarring of the liver from alcohol or other causes.
Congestive Heart Failure: Inadequate pumping and decline of heart function common in the elderly.
Diabetes: Failing or reduced ability of the body to handle sugars.
Dyserythropoietic anemia, congenital type 1: A very rare genetic blood disorder where abnormal red blood cells are made resulting in anemia. Finger and toe abnormalities are also usually present.
Dyserythropoietic anemia, congenital type 2: A very rare genetic blood disorder where abnormal red blood cells are made resulting in anemia.
Enlarged liver: Swelling of the liver.
Fatigue: Excessive tiredness or weakness.
Fibromyalgia: A difficult to diagnose condition affecting the muscles and/or joints
Finnish lethal neonatal metabolic syndrome: A very rare lethal metabolic disorder characterized by a deficiency of complex III which causes brain, kidney and liver problems and ultimately results in early death.
Gestational diabetes: Diabetes that occurs in pregnant women, usually resolving after birth.
Heart conditions: Any condition that affects the heart
Heart disease: Any of various heart conditions.
Hemochromatosis: Excess of iron leading to problems with joints, liver, heart and pancreas.
Hemochromatosis type 2: A rare genetic disorder where too much iron is absorbed from food and it is stored in various parts of the body which can cause damage. Type 2 is a more severe type, has a juvenile onset and is inherited recessively.
Hemochromatosis-related diabetes: A single-gene disease that causes iron accumulation in the tissues of the body. Diabetes is a primary complication if hemochromatosis goes untreated. Hemochromatosis is sometimes referred to as "bronze diabetes."
Hepatitis: Any type of liver inflammation or infection.
Hepatocellular jaundice: A condition which is characterized by jaundice due to injury or damage to the hepatocellular cells of the liver
Hepatoma: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver.
Hereditary Hemochromatosis: A genetic disorder where too much iron is absorbed from food and it is stored in various parts of the body which can cause damage. There are 4 types of hemochromatosis and they are distinguished by age of onset, genetic cause and type of inheritance. Some sufferers may be asymptomatic.
Hyperpigmentation: Excess skin pigment or coloration
Hypopituitarism: A disorder caused by reduced pituitary hormone levels. Hormones produce by the pituitary gland produces growth hormones, prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, antidiuretic hormone and others.
Hypothyroidism: Too little thyroid hormone production.
Impotence: Inability to attain or sustain an erection.
Jaundice: Bile or liver problem causing yellowness.
Joint pain: Pain affecting the joints
Lack of energy: When a person is lackadaisical and without energy
Liver cancer: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver.
Liver conditions: Any condition that affects the liver
Liver failure: Acute liver failure (ALF) is an uncommon condition in which the rapid deterioration of liver function results in coagulopathy and alteration in the mental status of a previously healthy individual.
Low libido: Reduced sexual drive or desire.
MODY diabetes: Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young affects approximately one or two per cent of people who have diabetes, and may often go unrecognised in its early stages. It is a form of diabetes that develops before the patient reaches 25. It also runs in families, and can pass from one generation to the next. MODY does not always require insulin treatment.
Male infertility: The inability of the male to reproduce
Menopause: The end of female menstruation and fertility.
Myocarditis: Inflammation of the myocardium (muscle walls of the heart)
Neonatal hemochromatosis:
No symptoms: The absence of noticable symptoms.
Osteoporosis: Bone thinning and weakening from bone calcium depletion.
Over-diagnosed conditions: Any condition that is diagnosed to excess even though the patient may not have the condition
Overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis: A rare disorder where abnormal red blood cell membranes fail to regulate movement of sodium and potassium into and out of the red blood cell. The red blood cell accumulates too much salt and water which causes it to burst. Destruction of red blood cells leads to anemia. The red blood cells are abnormally shaped and resemble a stoma or mouth.
Pancreas conditions: Any condition that affects the pancreas
Pancreas symptoms: Symptoms affecting the pancreas gland
Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is the term for damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which may be caused either by diseases of the nerve or from the side-effects of systemic illness.
Rheumatic conditions: Any condition that affects ones joints
Rheumatoid arthritis: Autoimmune form of arthritis usually in teens or young adults.
Sexual symptoms: Symptoms affecting the sexual organs
Sideroblastic anemia, hereditary: An inherited form of anemia where an enzyme deficiency prevents red blood cells from using iron properly. The red blood cells become overloaded with iron which impairs the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
Sideroblastic anemia, pyridoxine-responsive, autosomal recessive: Pyridoxine-responsive sideroblastic anemia is a rare inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal deposits of iron in the red blood cells which makes them unable to function properly. The condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and responds to treatment with pyridoxine.
Skin color changes: Skin changes such as redness, blueness, or whitening.
Systemic disorders: Any condition that occurs in a system of the body
Type 1 diabetes: Severe insulin-treated diabetes typically occurring in young people.
Type 2 diabetes: Most common diabetes in adults, usually progressing slowly, mostly treated without insulin at diagnosis.
Under-diagnosed conditions: Any medical condition that is undiagnosed
Vague symptoms: Vague, unclear, mild or non-specific symptoms
X-linked sideroblastic anemia: X-linked sideroblastic anemia is a rare inherited blood disorder characterized by abnormal deposits of iron in the red blood cells which makes them unable to function properly. The body continues to absorb more iron from digesting food in order to try and correct the problem but this simply leads to excessive iron being deposited in body tissues as the it can't use the iron properly. The severity of the condition is variable.