Organs commonly affected by haemochromatosis are the liver, heart, and endocrine glands.[3]
Haemochromatosis may present with the following clinical syndromes:[4]
- Cirrhosis of the liver: Varies from zonal iron deposition[5] to fibrosis (cirrhosis).
- Diabetes due to selective iron deposition in pancreatic islet beta cells leading to functional failure and cell death.[2][6]
- Cardiomyopathy
- Arthritis, from calcium pyrophosphate deposition in joints. The most commonly affected joints are those of the hands, particularly the knuckles of the second and third fingers.[7]
- Testicular failure
- Bronzing of the skin. This deep tan color, in concert with insulin insufficiency due to pancreatic damage, is the source of a nickname for this condition: “bronze diabetes”.
- Joint pain and bone pain
