Outlook

The outlook for hereditary hemochromatosis is favorable if it is diagnosed early and treated promptly. The life expectancy, in general, is improved from a 30% to about 90% 5-year survival rate with removal of excess iron and its maintenance in the normal range.

The main causes of death in untreated patients with hemochromatosis are heart failure (30%), cirrhosis of the liver (25%), and liver cancer (30%).