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Hemolytic anemia Causes and Risks:
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: The over all incidence of "hemolytic anemia" is 4 out of 100,000 people.
Prevention:
There is no known prevention for hemolytic anemia.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
These are test 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. 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:
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 typed and washed packed red cell may be necessary.
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.
A small amount of bone marrow is removed during a bone marrow aspiration. The procedure is uncomfortable, but can be tolerated by both children and adults. The marrow can be studied to determine the cause of anemia, the presence of leukemia or other malignancy, or the presence of some "storage diseases" in which abnormal metabolic products are stored in certain bone marrow cells.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disease in which the red blood cells produce abnormal pigment (hemoglobin). The abnormal hemoglobin causes deformity of the red blood cells into crescent or sickle-shapes, as seen in this photomicrograph.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder in which abnormal hemoglobin (the red pigment inside red blood cells) is produced. The abnormal hemoglobin causes red blood cells to assume a sickle shape, like the ones seen in this photomicrograph.
These crescent or sickle-shaped red blood cells (RBCs) are present with Sickle cell anemia, and stand out clearly against the normal round RBCs. These abnormally shaped cells may become entangled and block blood flow in the small blood vessels (capillaries).
This photomicrograph of red blood cells (RBCs) shows both sickle-shaped and pappenheimer RBCs.
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