Which treatment is used to reduce the hepatic complications of hemochromatosis?

Phlebotomy is the treatment of choice for reducing hepatic complications in patients with hemochromatosis, a condition characterized by excessive iron deposition in the body due to hereditary factors or repeated blood transfusions. The underlying issue in hemochromatosis is iron overload, which can lead to significant liver damage, cirrhosis, diabetes, and other complications.

Regular phlebotomy procedures help to lower the body’s iron stores by removing blood, which in turn reduces the total body iron level. As red blood cells contain a significant amount of iron, the removal of blood necessitates the utilization of the remaining iron for erythropoiesis, therefore promoting a reduction in excess iron. This process is effective in preventing or mitigating the hepatic complications associated with the disease.

In contrast, the other options, while relevant in other contexts, are not primary treatments for managing iron overload in hemochromatosis. For instance, penicillamine is a chelating agent used occasionally for copper overload or certain metal toxicities but is not the first line for iron. Paracentesis is a procedure for removing fluid from the abdominal cavity in cases of ascites, often related to liver dysfunction, but does not address the iron overload issue