Iron overload disorder

Overview
In medicine, iron overload disorders are diseases caused by the accumulation of iron in the body. Organs commonly affected are the liver, heart and endocrine glands.

Causes
The causes can be distinguished between primary (generally genetic) and secondary (due to other conditions).

Secondary iron overload

 * Dietary iron overload
 * Transfusional iron overload
 * Long term haemodialysis
 * Chronic liver disease
 * Hepatitis C
 * Alcoholic cirrhosis, especially when advanced
 * Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
 * Porphyria cutanea tarda
 * Post-portacaval shunting
 * Dysmetabolic iron overload syndrome

Miscellaneous
The part-genetic, part-environmental syndrome known as African iron overload in sub-Sahara Africa