Skip to main content

Hemolytic anemia

Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic Anemia


Definition - Types of hemolytic anemia - Symptoms   
- Signs and tests - Treatment  . 





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.Causes, incidence, 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
  • Thalassemia

Symptoms  
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Pale skin color
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Yellow skin color (jaundice)
  • Dark urine
  • Enlarged spleen
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 (RBC) 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

Treatment   

Treatment depends upon the type and cause of the hemolytic anemia. Folic acid, iron replacement, and corticosteroids may be used. In emergencies, transfusion of blood may be necessary.Expectations (prognosis)  The outcome depends upon the type of hemolytic anemia.Complications   The complications vary with the specific type of hemolytic anemia. Severe anemia can cause cardiovascular collapse. Severe anemias can aggravate pre-existing heart disease, lung disease, or cerebrovascular disease.Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of hemolytic anemia develop.Prevention  
  • There is no known prevention for hemolytic anemia
  • 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
Treatment  

 Treatment depends upon the type and cause of the hemolytic anemia. Folic acid, iron replacement, and corticosteroids may be used. In emergencies, transfusion of blood may be necessary.Expectations (prognosis)    The outcome depends upon the type of hemolytic anemia.Complications    The complications vary with the specific type of hemolytic anemia. Severe anemia can cause cardiovascular collapse. Severe anemias can aggravate pre-existing heart disease, lung disease, or cerebrovascular disease.Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms of hemolytic anemia develop.Prevention    There is no known prevention for hemolytic anemia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MICROSCOPIC URINALYSIS

MICROSCOPIC URINALYSIS   Methodology A sample of well-mixed   urine (usually 10-15 ml) is centrifuged in a test tube at relatively low speed (about 2-3,000 rpm) for 5-10 minutes until a moderately cohesive button is produced at the bottom of the tube. The supernatant is decanted and a volume of 0.2 to 0.5 ml is left inside the tube. The sediment is resuspended in the remaining supernatant by flicking the bottom of the tube several times. A drop of resuspended sediment is poured onto a glass slide and coverslipped.
1 comment
Read more

Liver Enzymes

Liver Enzymes   Definition A liver enzyme is a protein that helps to speed up a chemical reaction in the   liver. Liver function tests are blood tests that are used to evaluate various functions of the liver - for example, metabolism, storage, filtration and excretion, which are often performed by liver enzymes. However, not all liver function tests are measures of enzyme function. • ALT - (alanine aminotransferase )   - was previously called SGPT is more specific for liver damage. The ALT is an enzyme that is produced in the liver cells (hepatocytes) therefore it is more specific for liver disease than some of the other enzymes. It is generally increased in situations where there is damage to the liver cell membranes. All types of liver inflammation can cause raised ALT.    • AST - (aspartate aminotransferase) which was previously called SGOT. This is a mitochondrial enzyme that is also present in heart, muscle, kidney and brain ...
3 comments
Read more

Gamma globulins

Gamma globulins   Increased in immunoglobulins are often referred to as hyper gammaglobulinemia or gammopathies  Hypogammaglobulinemia This most often results from  decreased synthesis , but could also be associated with increased loss .  1 - Decreased synthesis ( High A : G ratio )  a- failure of passive transfer or colostrum deprivation  b - Combined immunodeficiency disease ( Both T & B cells are deficient )  c - Agammaglobulinemia  d - Acquired deficiency associated with inflammation , immunosuppressive drugs or neoplasia 
Post a Comment
Read more