hemosiderin laden macrophages definition
In hemosiderosis macrophages are hemosiderin-laden but without associated damage to surrounding tissue. When there more extensive accumulation occurs, it can lead to surrounding tissue damage, scarring and organ dysfunction. This is called hemochromatosis. Hemosiderin is an iron-containing pigment derived in humans from ferritin. It can be found in macrophages in small amounts throughout a number of different tissues including the bone marrow, liver and the spleen as a normal way to store iron. Under certain conditions it can pathologically accumulate in excess amounts.