Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disorder in which the small intestine absorbs excessive iron (1):

• Early clinical features include arthralgia, fatigue, decreased libido.
• Late effects include cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, hypermelanotic pigmentation of the skin, and heart failure.
• Because there is no mechanism to excrete excess iron, the excess is stored in muscle and in organs including the liver, pancreas, and heart, eventually resulting in severe damage to the affected organs.
• Liver damage may ultimately result in hepatocellular carcinoma.
• System(s) affected: Endocrine/Metabolic
• Synonym(s): Bronze diabetes; Troisier-Hanot-Chauffard syndrome