Secondary prevention

Screening of family members of patients with haemochromatosis is supported by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, the American College of Gastroenterology, the British Society for Haematology, and the European Association for the Study of the Liver.[4][7]​​[8][54][55]​ Screening may include fasting transferrin saturation, ferritin levels, and/or genetic testing, in adult family members, and screening is recommended for siblings and children of affected patients. However, if the spouse of the patient with haemochromatosis is not a carrier then the children cannot be homozygous for the mutation, and thus do not need testing.[78]

Patients with haemochromatosis should be advised to avoid additional supplementation of vitamin C and iron; naturally occurring sources are considered acceptable.[4][7][8]​ Some patients may be advised to take a low dose of vitamin C if they are being treated with iron chelation therapy to increase the excretion of iron.

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