Treatment of haemochromatosis: Drugs? Diet and lifestyle

The disease can be treated in different ways depending on the individual health status of the patient.

The most common and effective method of treatment is frequent blood draws. The level of iron in the blood is normalized.

This involves draining the blood from the body (venepuncture), which gradually removes excess iron. Treatment is usually repeated once or twice a week. After initial acute treatment, it may be repeated quarterly.

This procedure causes the patient minimal pain and also has few associated side effects.

Another treatment to slow the progression of the disease is to take preparations that block the absorption of iron from the small intestine into the body and help to excrete excess iron in the urine or stool.

The last option is surgery or a liver transplant if the liver is excessively damaged and unable to function physiologically.

Last but not least, the manifestations of haemochromatosis itself, such as diabetes mellitus and cardiac arrhythmias or musculoskeletal disorders, need to be treated.

The risk of complications can also be reduced by lifestyle modification.

Dietary treatment focuses on eliminating foods with excess iron, such as meat and seafood in particular.

It is important that the patient excludes the consumption of dietary supplements with iron.

Alcohol consumption should also be strictly avoided.