Iron - A metallic element, iron allows cells in your body to get the oxygen they need to carry out many functions that are essential for life.
Amenorrhea (uh-men-o-REE-uh) - A condition of interrupted/ irregular menstruation (or periods) in females aged 16 or older.
Anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh) - Anemia is a condition that means you have a lower than normal number of red blood cells. One possible cause of anemia is an iron deficiency, but there are also many other causes. Blood transfusions are one of the possible treatments for people with anemia. But if you continue to have transfusions to treat your anemia, you might eventually have too much iron in your body.
Aplastic Anemia - A failure of the bone marrow to make enough blood cells. All blood cell types are affected.
Arrhythmia (uh-RITH-me-uh) - An irregular heartbeat.
Blood Transfusions - A blood transfusion is a common procedure in which blood is given to you through an intravenous (or IV, meaning by vein) line in one of your blood vessels. Blood transfusions are done to replace blood lost during surgery or a serious injury. A transfusion also may be done if your body can't make blood properly because of an illness.
Chemotherapy - The use of drugs to treat cancer, which can in itself cause anemia.
Cirrhosis (sih-RO-sis) of The Liver - It is an inflammation (or swelling) that causes permanent scarring. The scarring keeps blood from flowing normally through the liver. Cirrhosis makes it difficult for the liver to rid the body of toxic substances, clean the blood, and make nutrients that are essential for the body. A condition of the liver that some people with too much iron can develop.
Congenital Dyserythropoietic (con-JEH-ni-tul dis-EH-ree-thro-poy-EH-tic) anemia - Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type II is an autosomal ( AW-to-SO-mul) recessive disease (a disease of indominant chromosomes) characterized by anemia, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), an enlarged spleen, and damaged red blood cells.
Cooley's Anemia - Most common form of Thalassemia.
Diamond Blackfan Anemia - In this disease, the bone marrow does not make enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Diabetes Mellitus (MEH-li-tus)- A lifelong disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin (a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood sugar), resistance to insulin, or both.
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Endocrine (EN-doe-krin) System - The network of glands that release hormones. The endocrine system is responsible for many important functions, such as metabolism, growth, development and puberty, and reproduction. A buildup of iron can damage the endocrine system.
Fanconi's Anemia - An inherited disease that mainly affects the bone marrow. It results in decreased production of all types of blood cells.
Hematopoiesis (hee-ma-to-poy-EE-sis ) - The process of the formation and development of all types of blood cells.
Primary Hemochromatosis (HEE-mo-KRO-muh-TO-sis) - Also known as hereditary hemochromatosis or classical hemochromatosis, is an inherited disease in which too much iron builds up in your body due to a defect in the genes that control how much iron you absorb from your diet. This disease does not result from too many blood transfusions.
Secondary Hemochromatosis - Also known as transfusional iron overload, is when there's too much iron in the body. It is usually caused by diseases such as thalassemia or sideroblastic anemia. Occasionally, it may be seen with hemolytic (HEE-mo-LIH-tic) anemia, chronic alcoholism, and other conditions. It may also be caused by too much iron from blood transfusions or iron pills.
Hemolysis (hee-MOLL-ih-sis) - Red blood cell destruction.
Hereditary Condition - To receive a disease from one's parents by genetic transmission.
Iron Overload - A condition that occurs when there is too much iron in the body.
Leukemia - A cancer of the blood that affects the normal production of white blood cells.
Liver - One of the largest organs in your body, the liver performs many important jobs that keep you alive, including storing vitamins and minerals, changing food sugars (carbohydrates) into energy, digesting food by breaking down fats, and filtering harmful substances from the blood.
Lymphoma (lim-FO-muh) - A cancer of the immune system that affects the normal production of blood cells, including red blood cells.
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Myelodyplastic (MY-eh-lo-di-PLAS-tic) Syndrome (MDS) - Although it can occur in children, MDS is a disease that occurs mostly in older adults. People with MDS don't produce enough healthy blood cells, which can lead to anemia, infections and bleeding and may progress to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Oxygen - Oxygen is a gas that you need for the cells in your body to work properly. The air we breathe normally has 21% oxygen.
Red Blood Cells (RBC) - The most common blood cells in the body. They are the principle way for the bloodstream to deliver oxygen to the body.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (CAR-dee-o-my-OP-uh-thee) - A serious heart condition that can occur when too much iron builds up in the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy is when the walls of the lower chambers of the heart, or ventricles, become rigid. The rigid heart walls prevent the ventricles from filling with enough blood between heartbeats. And because the ventricles aren't as full of blood as they should be, less blood flows from the heart and begins to back up in the circulatory system.
Serum Ferritin (SEE-rum FER-ih-tin) Blood Levels - - Ferritin is a protein found inside cells that store iron so your body can use it later. A serum ferritin blood level tells you how much of this protein is in your body.
Serum Ferritin (SEE-rum FER-ih-tin) Test - A blood test that can be used to measure the amount of serum ferritin (iron) in your body. A protein found inside cells, ferritin stores iron so that your body can use it later.
Sickle Cell Anemia - A common and inherited blood disorder in the United States. Sickle cell disease affects 1 in 500 African Americans and 1 in 1000 Hispanic Americans, but it can occur in people of all races.
Sideroblastic (SID-eh-ro-BLAS-tic) Anemia - An enzyme disorder in which the body has adequate iron but is unable to incorporate it into hemoglobin.
Tachycardia (TAK-ee-KAR-dee-uh) - When your heart beats too fast.
Thalassemia (THAL-uh-SEE-mee-uh) - Inherited disorders characterized by abnormal production of hemoglobin. They result in low hemoglobin production and excessive destruction of red blood cells.
Transfusional Iron Overload (or secondary hemochromatosis) - When there is too much iron in the body as a result of periodic or regular blood transfusions used to treat several types of anemia (greater than or equal to 20 units). Iron overload typically happens when you have had 10 or more transfusions. The risk is calculated by the total number of blood transfusions you've had in your lifetime. |
