Procedures

Venesection for Hemochromatosis, often known as phlebotomy, is a procedure used to withdraw blood, typically 450mL to 500mL. It is similar to the concept of donating blood in that it is essentially the same operation. Venesection therapy efficiently lowers iron levels and prevents an excess of iron from being stored in the body. Because venesection is identical to blood donation, there should be few to no side effects and no long-term problems. As your body adapts to having less blood, you may suffer dizziness or light-headedness; if this occurs, please notify our doctors or nurses to provide appropriate care.

You may also observe some redness at the injection site, although this should fade away after a few days. To minimize further bruising or stiffness, it is preferable to avoid carrying heavy objects with the hand used for venesection for at least 24 hours. It is also strongly advised that you eat and stay hydrated prior to having a venesection in order to reduce adverse effects and avoid feeling dizzy and nauseous following the procedure.

The expelled blood contains iron-containing red blood cells, and your body will be using up more iron to replace them, significantly reducing the quantity of iron in your body.

1. Induction - blood is drawn on a regular basis (typically weekly) until your iron levels return to normal; this can take up to a year or more.
2. Maintenance entails drawing blood less regularly (generally twice a year) to keep your iron levels to normal; this is typically needed forever.