Editing Iron overload (section)

==Prognosis==

In general, provided there has been no liver damage, patients should expect a normal life expectancy if adequately treated by venesection. If the serum ferritin is greater than 1,000&nbsp;μg/L at diagnosis there is a risk of liver damage and cirrhosis which may eventually shorten their life.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Allen|first1=KJ|last2=Gurrin|first2=LC|last3=Constantine|first3=CC|last4=Osborne|first4=NJ|last5=Delatycki|first5=MB|last6=Nicoll|first6=AJ|last7=McLaren|first7=CE|last8=Bahlo|first8=M|last9=Nisselle|first9=AE|last10=Vulpe|first10=CD|last11=Anderson|first11=GJ|last12=Southey|first12=MC|last13=Giles|first13=GG|last14=English|first14=DR|last15=Hopper|first15=JL|last16=Olynyk|first16=JK|last17=Powell|first17=LW|last18=Gertig|first18=DM|title=Iron-overload-related disease in HFE hereditary hemochromatosis.|journal=The New England Journal of Medicine|date=17 January 2008|volume=358|issue=3|pages=221–30|doi=10.1056/NEJMoa073286|pmid=18199861|url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:183461/UQ183461_OA.pdf}}</ref> The presence of [[cirrhosis]] increases the risk of [[hepatocellular carcinoma]].<ref name=Kow2004>{{cite journal|last1=Kowdley|first1=KV|title=Iron, hemochromatosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.|journal=Gastroenterology|date=November 2004|volume=127|issue=5 Suppl 1|pages=S79–86|pmid=15508107|doi=10.1016/j.gastro.2004.09.019}}</ref> Other risk factors for liver damage in hemochromatosis include alcohol use, diabetes, liver iron levels greater than 2,000 μmol/gram and increased [[aspartate transaminase]] levels.<ref name="NEJM Olynyk" />

The risk of death and liver fibrosis are elevated in males with HFE type hemochromatosis but not in females; this is thought to be due to a protective effect of menstruation and pregnancy seen in females as well as possible hormone-related differences in iron absorption.<ref name="NEJM Olynyk" />