Iron overload pathophysiology and reversibility of organ damage
Core concept
- Iron overload -> excess free (non-transferrin-bound) iron catalyses Fenton reaction -> hydroxyl radicals -> lipid peroxidation and organelle damage
- Organs affected by parenchymal iron deposition: liver, heart, pancreas, pituitary, joints, skin
- Reversibility depends on whether damage is functional (iron-driven) or structural (fibrotic/fixed) at the time of chelation/venesection
3 more sections, plus exam facts
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