How does iron overload affect the endocrine system?

How does iron overload affect the endocrine system?

Iron overload in endocrine organs leads to hypogonadism, disorders of growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH-IGF-1) axis, and hypothyroidism. Iron toxicity is caused by an overload of the respective element, a condition related to non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI).

How does thalassemia affect the endocrine system?

Patients with multi-transfused thalassaemia major may develop severe endocrine complications due to iron overload. The anterior pituitary is particularly sensitive to iron overload which disrupts hormonal secretion resulting in hypogonadism, short stature , acquired hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism.

Is anemia an endocrine disorder?

Anemia is the most common hematopoietic abnormality in endocrine disorders and may be the first manifestation of an endocrine disorder.

Can thalassemia major cause iron overload?

Background: In beta thalassaemia major multiple blood transfusions, ineffective erythropoiesis and increased gastrointestinal iron absorption lead to iron overload in the body. Iron overload impairs the immune system, placing patients at greater risk of infection and illness.

Is hemochromatosis an endocrine disorder?

Key to understanding haemochromatosis as an endocrine disorder is that iron overload is caused by a deficiency of the iron hormone ‘hepcidin’. Accordingly, haemochromatosis can be viewed the ‘diabetes of iron metabolism’, where hepcidin and iron have a functional relationship comparable to insulin and glucose.

What system does hemochromatosis affect?

The liver is the organ most affected by hemochromatosis, because of its relatively large blood flow. Blood from the portal circulation (which comes from the intestines) goes straight to the liver. Once the body absorbs iron, it is not lost until blood is lost.

What are the symptoms of alpha thalassemia?

Some of the more common symptoms of alpha thalassemia include:

  • fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath.
  • a pale appearance or a yellow color to the skin (jaundice)
  • irritability.
  • deformities of the facial bones.
  • slow growth.
  • a swollen abdomen.
  • dark urine.

What are the symptoms of thalassemia trait?

Thalassemia signs and symptoms can include:

  • Fatigue.
  • Weakness.
  • Pale or yellowish skin.
  • Facial bone deformities.
  • Slow growth.
  • Abdominal swelling.
  • Dark urine.

What are disorders of the endocrine system?

Common endocrine disorders include diabetes mellitus, acromegaly (overproduction of growth hormone), Addison’s disease (decreased production of hormones by the adrenal glands), Cushing’s syndrome (high cortisol levels for extended periods of time), Graves’ disease (type of hyperthyroidism resulting in excessive thyroid …

Is iron overload associated with endocrine function disorders in TDT patients?

This study is the first to report the proportion of endocrine function disorders in adult TDT patients with growth retardation and its correlation with iron overload in the Indonesian population, particularly in the RSCM Jakarta. The average values of the subjects’ TSHs and fT4 were in the normal range.

What happens if you have too much iron?

Iron overload on the pituitary, thyroid, and liver causes iron toxicity that damages the cells playing a role in the synthesis of TSH, fT4, and IGF-1. Consequently, the levels of these hormones are reduced, leading to hypothyroidism or growth retardation.

Does iron overload aggravate zinc deficiency?

These correlations go with several studies that found ferritin levels to have significant negative correlations with plasma zinc levels [40–43], which supports that iron overload aggravates zinc deficiency [39].

Does ferritin level affect zinc levels in children with TDT?

Serum zinc was significantly lower in TDT children with serum ferritin above the ferritin threshold than those with serum ferritin below (59.1 ± 20.2 vs. 77.5 ± 28.13), as p = 0.02.

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