What is the disease characterized by excess iron deposits throughout the body that may lead to cirrhosis and portal hypertension?

Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition characterized by the body's excessive absorption and storage of iron, leading to iron overload in various organs, particularly the liver, pancreas, heart, and skin.

In hemochromatosis, the excess iron deposits can cause significant damage to the liver, resulting in conditions such as cirrhosis, which is the scarring of liver tissue, and portal hypertension, which is increased blood pressure in the portal venous system due to liver damage. These complications arise because the accumulated iron generates oxidative stress and inflammatory processes that damage the liver parenchyma over time.

Other diseases, such as Wilson's disease, hepatitis C, and alcoholic liver disease, have different pathophysiological mechanisms and can lead to liver damage; however, they do not primarily involve excess iron deposition. Wilson’s disease is related to copper accumulation, hepatitis C pertains to viral infection leading to liver inflammation, and alcoholic liver disease is due to the toxic effects of alcohol on the liver. Therefore, hemochromatosis specifically highlights the critical issue of iron overload, making it the correct choice for this question.