Sir,Members of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association were encouraged by the inclusion of information on haemochromatosis in the Health Supplement of July 25th.
Dr Eamonn Shanahan has rightly pointed out the urgent need to diagnose haemochromatosis at an early age so as to prevent the later development of serious and debilitating effects. Early diagnosis is very important because if treated in time, before organ damage occurs, the person will have a normal life expectancy.
A simple blood test can be done by the family doctor if the symptoms indicate that haemochromatosis may be the diagnosis. The non-specific symptoms include chronic fatigue, joint pain, diabetes, enlarged liver and irregular heart beat.
Haemochromatosis is a genetic iron overload disorder and is more common in the Republic than in any other country. It is thought that about one in 100 Irish people have the genetic predisposition to develop iron overload and one in five Irish people have one copy of the mutated gene and are known as carriers.
Fortunately, however, it is easy and painless to control haemochromatosis by removing blood in the same way that it is taken from blood donors. This treatment is simple and effective and is known as venesection or phlebotomy. The aim of the treatment is to reduce the stored iron in body tissues.
For further information, the IHA website is located at www.haemochromatosis-ir.com; voice mail 01-8735911.
Margaret Mullett,
chairwoman,
Irish Haemochromatosis Association