Definition of "hemochromatosis" [hemochromatosis]

• A hereditary disorder affecting iron metabolism in which excessive amounts of iron accumulate in the body tissues. The disorder is characterized by diabetes mellitus, liver dysfunction, and a bronze pigmentation of the skin. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Scanning the Internet, she learned about a hereditary condition called hemochromatosis, in which the body stores iron at dangerous concentrations in the blood, tissues and organs."
• "I did a workup to look for common causes of liver dysfunction such as chronic viral hepatitis and an iron overload disorder called hemochromatosis; all of these blood tests came back negative."
• "This technique, which is used primarily for people with a liver condition called hemochromatosis, is described in more detail in chapter 11."