Most patients with HH become symptomatic during middle age. Early signs and symptoms of HH are vague, nonspecific, and variable. As iron overload progresses (late HH), signs and symptoms become more severe and are related to damage of specific organs.
Table 1 lists the signs and symptoms of Early HH compared to Late HH disease.
Table 1. Signs and Symptoms of Hereditary Hemochromatosis.| Early Signs & Symptoms of HH | Late Signs & Symptoms of HH |
| Fatigue | Gray or bronze skin tone |
| Depression | Cirrhosis of the liver |
| Irritability | Liver cancer |
| Joint Pain | Heart disease or heart failure |
| Impotence | Diabetes mellitus |
| Amenorrhea | Hypopituitarism |
| Hypogonadism |
| Joint disease |
| Chronic abdominal pain |
| Severe fatigue |
| Increased incidence of bacterial infection |
| Splenomegaly |
