Alcohol abuse increases this risk. There must be active surveillance in these patients with frequent liver scans and alpha-fetoprotein measurements. Some cancers can be actively treated if detected early, in some instances liver transplant is warrented. This problem can occur with fairly low iron concentration and usually in young adults. Once the iron overload is decreased, this problem usually resolves.
Arthritis usually affects the hands especially the second and third metacarpophlangeal joints.
In haemachromatosis there is a slow accumulation of iron throughout the lifetime. In the early stages the iron accumulation is silent and only when the iron reaches toxic levels long term tissue injury is sustained. Early symptoms remain insidious i.e. lethargy and fatigue. It still remains uncertain the role of diet in haemochromatosis, certainly a low iron diet is impossible and fresh iron intake is required daily for normal bodily processes to take place. The most available form of iron is meat which is absorbed extremely well into the system.