Liver Donation if You Have Hemochromatosis (too much iron)

What is hemochromatosis?

Hemochromatosis is a health condition that causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. Iron is a mineral that your body needs to make red blood cells and help red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. In hemochromatosis, extra iron can build up to harmful levels in your organs, such as your liver and heart. This can cause:

• Liver damage
• Cirrhosis (scarring in your liver)
• Liver cancer
• Heart failure
• Diabetes   

What causes hemochromatosis?

A common cause of hemochromatosis is a genetic change (mutation) passed down from both parents. Here’s how it often happens:

1. There is a change in your HFE gene (a gene that helps cells in your liver know how much iron is in your body)

2. This gene change causes your body to absorb too much iron

How will I know if I have hemochromatosis?

As part of the living liver donor evaluation, you will have blood and MRI imaging tests to see how much iron is in your body. The blood tests measure:

• Iron levels in your blood
• Ferritin levels in your blood (ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron)
• Transferrin saturation, which compares the level of iron and transferrin in your blood (transferrin is the main protein that binds iron in the blood)

The MRI might show that you have a buildup of iron in your liver.

If your blood tests or MRI images show too much iron, you may also have:

• A genetic test to look for changes in your HFE gene
• A liver biopsy to know if you have liver damage (in a biopsy, a doctor takes a small sample of liver tissue to look at it in a lab)

Can I donate if I have hemochromatosis?

It depends. It may not be safe for you or the liver recipient. Some centers will not let you donate if:

• Blood tests show you have too much iron
• MRI images show a buildup of iron in your liver
• Genetic tests show you have a change in your HFE gene

If you have HFE gene changes and cannot be a liver donor, follow up with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend that your family members get tested to see if they also have hemochromatosis.