ETIOLOGIES, CONSEQUENCES, AND TREATMENT OF IRON OVERLOAD

From a global perspective, severe systemic iron overload occurs predom inantly in individuals affected by geographically specific genetic mut ations that permit the daily absorption from the diet of more iron tha n is physiologically needed. Two main types of hereditary iron overloa d are well. recognized: (1) HLA-linked hemochromatosis in populations derived from Europe and (2) iron overload complicating thalassaemia ma jor and intermedia syndromes in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and t he Mediterranean. Another very common form of iron overload occurs in Africa and is clearly related to high dietary iron content; recent evi dence suggests that a genetic predisposition may also contribute to th e pathogenesis. Patients with iron overload may develop multiorgan sys tem toxicity; aggressive therapy with phlebotomy or iron chelation to remove excess iron from the body prevents organ damage and prolongs li fe.