May 25-31 is National Hemochromatosis Awareness Week

It is estimated that 1 in every 250 to 300 Canadians has Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH), considered to be the most common genetic condition in the Caucasian population, yet most people do not know that they may have this disease until it’s too late. HH is caused by excess dietary iron being absorbed into the body, resulting in iron overload and excessive storage of iron in various organs and tissues, particularly the liver, skin, pancreas, heart, and joints. Symptoms typically occur in men between 40 and 60 years of age, and in women after menopause, with patients experiencing darkening (“bronzing”) of the skin, fatigue, diabetes, arthritis, impotence, congestive heart failure, liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, or hepatocellular cancer.

HH is suspected via simple blood tests screening for biochemical iron overload (serum transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels), and confirmed via molecular testing of the HFE gene on chromosome 6. Available treatment is to remove the excess iron in the body via phlebotomy (removing blood usually from a vein in the arm). Because phlebotomy is invasive, time-consuming, and can be painful and contra-indicated for some patients, Xenon is developing oral therapy for hemochromatosis which will prevent the excess iron from being absorbed into the body. This oral therapy approach should significantly speed up the treatment process and prevent complications of the disease.