In medicine, iron overload disorders are diseases caused by the accumulation of iron in the body.

Causes

Primary iron overload (see the Haemochromatosis page)

• Type 1: Haemochromatosis associated to mutations in the HFE gene: ()
  • C282Y homozygosity
  • C282Y/H63D compound heterozygosity
• Type 2: Juvenile hereditary iron overload ()
  • 2A: mutation of an unknown gene, tentatively called HFE2A
  • 2B: mutation in hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP)
• Type 3: Hereditary iron overload associated to mutations in the Transferrin receptor 2 gene ()
• Type 4: Hereditary iron overload associated to mutations in the SLC11A3 gene (Ferroportin/MTP/IREG-1) ()
• Aceruloplasminaemia (rare disease) ()
• Congenital atransferrinaemia (rare disease) ()
• Others (unidentified genes)
  • Juvenile haemochromatosis ()
  • Neonatal haemochromatosis ()

Secondary iron overload

• Dietary iron overload
• Parental iron overload (see item in Haemochromatosis article)
• Iron loading anaemias (see item in Haemochromatosis article)
• Long term haemodialysis
• Chronic liver disease
  • Hepatitis C
  • Alcoholic cirrhosis, especially when advanced
  • Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Porphyria cutanea tarda
• Post-portacaval shunting
• Dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome

Miscellaneous

• The part-genetic, part-environmental syndrome known as African iron overload in sub-Sahara Africa ()

See also

• Iron deficiency
• Siderosis
• Human iron metabolism

External links

• Texas Medical Center
• Merck
• Iron Overload.org

Sources

• Pietrangelo A. Haemochromatosis. Gut 2003;52(Suppl 2):23-30
• Andrews NC. Disorders of iron metabolism. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1986-95

Iron