What is Haemochromatosis?
How you can help
Information & Resources
News And Events
What is Haemochromatosis?
Haemochromatosis (or ‘iron overload’) is an inherited disorder which causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. The excess iron gradually accumulates, usually in the liver, pancreas, joints, heart or endocrine glands.
Ireland has the highest rates of haemochromatosis in the world, where approximately 1 in 83 people are at risk of developing haemochromatosis and 1 in 5 are carrriers of the gene.
Symptoms
Iron builds up slowly so symptoms may not appear until age 30 or 40. Symptoms can include, but are not limited to chronic fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, diabetes
Treatment
The treatment of choice and the most effective strategy for the management of Haemochromatosis is Venesection (Phlebotomy), which means the removal of blood
Testing
An iron panel blood test can confirm or rule out iron overload. If both serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation (TS) levels are raised, then a genetic test should be carried out
Information
Links to patient information guides, diet and haemochromatosis, research and managing haemochromatosis for patients, GPs and nursing professionals
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Get in touch via our helpline or email on our contact us page, our team is always ready to advise and support
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News and Events
Our members and supporters give us a collective voice to help promote awareness of haemochromatosis in Ireland and internationally. We are passionate about promoting early awareness of haemochromatosis.
You can keep up-to-date with our work and our news and events, by signing up for membership of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association or by making a donation to help us advocate for people and families with haemochromatosis.
Damian Boylan is Cork’s New Lord Mayor
We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Damian Boylan, friend, advocate and member of the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, who has just been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Cork! Damian has been an amazing public representative for several years and has made it his mission to raise awareness of haemochromatosis, having been diagnosed himself 23 years ago.
‘We are Family’ HUK Haemochromatosis Event Belfast
Haemochromatosis UK are hosting a haemochromatosis in-person event in Belfast on the 7th October 2026. Everyone is welcome to attend. Local, national, and international standard experts will deliver a dedicated programme of talks in the beautiful Titanic Hotel. This conference is relevant to anyone affected across the UK and Ireland – even further afield.
World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week, 1-7th June 2026
World Haemochromatosis Awareness Week launches!! This is the most important time of the year, when we urge everyone in Ireland to recognise the symptoms of the nation’s ‘Hidden Condition’, often called the ‘Celtic Gene’. Sister and brother, Emilia and Teddy Eustace joined Alice Kelly, Anna McCarthy and Brian Keegan to launch the week.
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