Phlebotomy Early diagnosis is vital, as the late effects of iron accumulation can be wholly prevented by periodic phlebotomies (by venesection) comparable in volume to blood donations. Phlebotomy (or bloodletting) is usually done at a weekly or each two weeks interval until ferritin levels are 50 μg/l or less. To prevent iron reaccumulation, subsequent phlebotomies are normally carried out about once every three to four months for males, and twice a year for females to keep the serum ferritin between 50-100 ug/l Iron chelation therapy Where venesection is not possible, long-term administration of an iron chelator as Deferoxamine (or Desferrioxamine), Deferasirox and Deferiprone is useful. Deferoxamine is an iron-chelating compound, and excretion induced by deferoxamine is enhanced by administration of vitamin C. It cannot be used during pregnancy or breast-feeding due to risk of defects in the child. Organ damage * Treatment of organ damage (heart failure with diuretics and ACE inhibitor therapy). Hepatic transplantation in patients with liver failure. Diet * Limiting intake of alcoholic beverages, vitamin C (increases iron absorption in the gut), red meat (high in iron), and potential causes of food poisoning (shellfish, raw seafood) * Increasing intake of substances that inhibit iron absorption, such as high-tannin tea, calcium, and foods containing oxalic and phytic acids (such as collard greens, which must be consumed at the same time as the iron-containing foods to be effective) Chelating polymers A novel experimental approach to the<unk>  treatment is the maintenance therapy with polymeric chelators. These polymers or particles have a negligible or null systemic biological availability and they are designed to form stable complexes with Fe2+ and Fe3+ in the GIT and thus limiting the uptake of these ions and their long-term accumulation. Although this method has only a limited efficacy, unlike small-molecular chelators, such an approach has virtually no side effects in sub-chronic studies. Interestingly, the simultaneous chelation of Fe2+ and Fe3+ increases the treatment efficacy.
Hereditary haemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis type 4
Juvenile hemochromatosis
Haemochromatosis type 3
Aceruloplasminemia
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Familial cirrhosis
Wilson's disease