Phone: 206-598-4615
Fax: 206-598-4957
Toll-free: 1-800-326-5300
The Iron Overload Clinic at UW Medical Center specializes in the diagnosis of hemochromatosis and provides comprehensive assessment, including genetic testing, for adults with iron overload disorders. Most patients seen in our clinic have hereditary hemochromatosis, the most common inherited condition in the United States, found in 1 in 300 to 400 Americans of Northern European descent.
Untreated, hereditary hemochromatosis can lead to cirrhosis, hepatocellular cancer, diabetes, and heart failure. We also see patients with secondary iron overload, due to repeated blood transfusions or extreme dietary iron.
The clinic is staffed by physicians from the UW School of Medicine's divisions of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Pathology, and Medical Genetics. Our multidisciplinary services include genetic testing for the recently identified hemochromatosis gene, which is mutated in 85 to 90 percent of patients with hereditary hemochromatosis, as well as genetic counseling. We also offer diagnostic liver biopsy and can perform hepatic iron measurement from both fresh tissue and paraffin-embedded blocks.
Our goal is to provide a definitive diagnosis for patients with suspected iron overload via genetic testing and/or liver biopsy, as well as family screening, and then send your patient back to you with a management and follow-up plan for ongoing care.
Making a Referral
Physician referrals. To refer a patient to the Iron Overload Clinic, call us at 206-598-3339 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday (except holidays). We will make every attempt to see your patient within a week or two of your referral.
We ask that your patients have the following tests prior to being referred:
- Serum iron
- TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
- Ferritin.
This will allow you to calculate the transferrin saturation (serum iron divided by the TIBC). Generally, any value higher than 45 to 50 percent is suggestive of iron overload. Serum ferritin concentration may or may not be elevated in patients with hemochromatosis.
Using MedCon.
For consultation or to make a referral, physicians may also call MedCon, the University of Washington School of Medicine’s 24-hour consulting physician line, at 1-800-326-5300, and ask for an iron overload consult.
Medical records.
Please fax your patient's medical records and pertinent diagnostic test results prior to his or her first visit to the Iron Overload Clinic. These include:
- Past hospitalization summaries
- Previous laboratory and radiology evaluations (especially liver biopsy reports and slides)
- Phlebotomy records
- Summaries of pertinent consultations and outpatient visits.
Please make sure that the patient has had a serum iron test, TIBC, and ferritin test performed prior to making your referral.
Referral form.
Please include a completed managed care insurance referral form with your patient's medical records.
Follow-up
We are committed to working with you in a consultant role. Once your patient’s diagnosis has been established and a treatment plan initiated, we may need to see the patient once or twice more for follow-up, but he or she will be returned to your care for initiation and maintenance of iron depletion therapy.
Questions?
If at any time you have questions about your patient’s treatment or would like a consultation, please do not hesitate to call the Iron Overload Clinic at 206-598-4615.
Iron Overload Clinic Staff
Kris V. Kowdley, M.D.
Medical Director
Hepatology/Transplant
Mary P. Bronner, M.D.
Pathology
Michael Linenberger, M.D.
Hematology
Arno Motulsky, M.D.
Medical Genetics