Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Hemochromatosis primary prevention
Introduction
Overview
Overview
There is no primary prevention of inherited hemochormatosis. However conditions causing secondary iron load can be avoided. Screening family members of a person diagnosed with hemochromatosis may detect the disease early so that treatment can be started before organ damage has occurred in other affected relatives.
Primary Prevention
Primary Prevention
There is no primary prevention of inherited hemochormatosis. However conditions causing secondary iron load can be avoided. Screening family members of a person diagnosed with hemochromatosis may detect the disease early so that treatment can be started before organ damage has occurred in other affected relatives.
| Measurements | Asymptomatic | Symptomatic |
|---|---|---|
| Serum iron level (μg/dL) | 150-280 | 180-300 |
| Serum transferrin saturation | 45-100 | 80-100 |
| Serum ferritin level (μg/L) | Men 150-1000 | 500-6000 |
| Female 120-1000 | 500-6000 | |
| Hepatic iron concentration μg/g dry weight | 2000-10,000 | 8000-30,000 |
| Perls’ Prussian blue stain | 2+ to 4+ | 3+, 4+ |
| Hepatic iron index | >1.9 | >1.9 |
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sunny Kumar MD [2]