PubMED Search Excess iron is toxic, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to the intestine. Iron may accumulate in the body when a person is given iron therapy in excessive amounts or for too long, receives several blood transfusions, or has chronic alcoholism. Usually, symptoms don't appear until middle age, developing insidiously. The skin becomes bronze-colored, and cirrhosis, liver cancer, diabetes, and heart failure develop, resulting in premature death. Symptoms may include arthritis, impotence, infertility, hypothyroidism, and chronic fatigue.
Blood tests can determine if a person has iron excess.
All relatives of an affected person should be screened. Bloodletting is the treatment of choice. Early diagnosis and treatment permits a long, health life. Excerpted with permission from page 661-662 of The Merck Manual of Medical Information.