Lifelong treatment of HH is needed to keep iron at low levels. Without regular treatment, iron stores will re-accumulate. The primary care physician may manage patient care during long-term maintenance.
Long-term maintenance typically consists of removing an average of 2 to 6 units of whole blood yearly, although this number is variable. Monitoring of hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels determines the frequency of phlebotomy. Serum ferritin levels should be maintained at no more than 50 ng/mL concentrations.10,13
