Destruction of Red Blood Cells

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Hemolytic anemia ***

Overview | Treatment | Images

Definition

Hemolytic anemia is a condition of an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells (anemia), caused by premature destruction of red blood cells. There are a number of specific types of hemolytic anemia which are described individually.

Alternative names

Anemia - hemolytic

Causes, incidences, and risk factors

Hemolytic anemia occurs when the bone marrow is unable to compensate for premature destruction of red blood cells by increasing their production. When the marrow is able to compensate, anemia does not occur.

There are many types of hemolytic anemia, which are classified by the location of the defect. The defect may be in the red blood cell itself (intrinsic factor), or outside the red blood cell (extrinsic factor).

Causes of hemolytic anemia include infection, certain medications, autoimmune disorders, and inherited disorders. Types of hemolytic anemia include:

Sickle cell anemia
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Hemoglobin SC disease
Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
Hereditary elliptocytosis
Hereditary spherocytosis
Hereditary ovalocytosis
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
Non-immune hemolytic anemia caused by chemical or physical agents
Secondary immune hemolytic anemia
Sickle thalassemia

Prevention

There is no known prevention for hemolytic anemia.

Symptoms

Signs and tests

These are tests for hemolysis (red blood cell destruction). There are specific tests which identify the specific types of hemolytic anemia. They are performed after hemolysis has been established.

Elevated indirect bilirubin levels
Low serum haptoglobin
Hemoglobin in the urine
Hemosiderin in the urine
Increased urine and fecal urobilinogen
Elevated absolute reticulocyte count
Low red blood cell count and hemoglobin
Elevated serum LDH

Direct measurement of the red cell life span by isotopic tagging techniques shows a decreased life span.

This disease may also alter the following test results depending on the specific cause:

Uric acid
TIBC
RBC indices
Protein electrophoresis - serum
Potassium test
Platelet count
Peripheral smear
Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
Serum iron
Hematocrit
Ferritin
Febrile or cold agglutinins
Donath-Landsteiner test
Coombs’ test, indirect
Coombs’ test, direct
CBC
Blood differential
AST
24 hour urine protein

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