Hemolytic Anemia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments!
Hemolytic Anemia – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments that we should not ignore. In addition, red blood cells have an important mission to carry oxygen from your lungs to your heart and throughout your body. Your bone marrow is responsible for making these red blood cells.
When dying red blood cells exceed bone marrow production in a person, hemolytic anemia occurs . Hemolytic anemia can be extrinsic or intrinsic.
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Extrinsic hemolytic anemia is also known as autoimmune hemolytic anemia. This type of anemia develops when the spleen traps and destroys healthy red blood cells. It can also come from the destruction of red blood cells due to:
Intrinsic hemolytic anemia develops when the red blood cells produced by your body are defective. This condition is often inherited, as in people with sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.
Anyone of any age can develop hemolytic anemia . However, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), hemolytic anemia appears to affect more African Americans than Caucasians. This is likely because sickle cell anemia is more prevalent among African Americans.
Causes of Hemolytic Anemia: While it is possible that a doctor may not be able to determine the source of hemolytic anemia , there are a number of diseases and even medications that can cause this condition. The following are the underlying causes ofextrinsic hemolytic anemia :
- Enlarged spleen;
- hepatitis;
- Epstein Barr virus;
- typhoid fever ;
- Escherichia coli;
- Streptococcus;
- leukemia ;
- Lymphoma;
- Tumors ;
- lupus;
- Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, an autoimmune disorder;
- HELLP syndrome (named for its features, which include hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet counts);
Hemolytic anemia is not always due to an autoimmune disease. In some cases, it is the result of taking certain medications. This is known as drug-induced hemolytic anemia . Some examples of medications that can cause the condition are:
- Acetaminophen;
- Antibiotics, such as penicillin, ampicillin, or methicillin;
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine);
- Ibuprofen;
- alpha interferon;
- Procainamide;
- quinine;
- Rifampin (Rifadin);
One of the most serious forms of hemolytic anemia is the type caused by receiving a blood transfusion of the wrong blood type. Every person has a distinct blood type (A, B, AB or O).
If you get the wrong blood type, your existing blood will start making immune cells called antibodies to fight the transfused blood. The result is an extremely rapid destruction of red blood cells. That’s why healthcare professionals need to carefully examine blood types before giving blood.
Some causes of hemolytic anemia are temporary. Hemolytic anemia is curable if a doctor can identify the underlying cause and treat it.
Symptoms of Hemolytic Anemia: As there are many different causes of hemolytic anemia , each person may have different symptoms. However, there are some shared symptoms that many people experience when they have hemolytic anemia . Some symptoms of hemolytic anemia are the same as other forms of anemia.
Other less common Signs and Symptoms that are seen in patients with Hemolytic Anemia include:
- dark urine;
- Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice);
- heart murmur ;
- increased heart rate;
- Enlarged spleen;
- Enlarged liver;
Hemolytic Anemia in Newborns: Hemolytic disease of the newborn is a condition that occurs when a mother and baby have incompatible blood types.
Another name for this condition is erythroblastosis fetalis. With blood types, a person can be either Rh negative or Rh positive. Some examples include A positive, A negative, AB negative, O positive and other variations in these blood types.
If a mother has a negative blood type and her baby’s father has a positive one, there is a possibility of hemolytic disease of the newborn. The effects of this are just like blood transfusion reactions. The mother’s body views the baby’s blood type as “foreign” and can potentially attack the baby.
This condition is more likely to happen to a woman in her second pregnancy. This is due to the way the body builds its immunity. In her first pregnancy, a mother’s immune system figures out how to develop defenses against negative blood cells. Doctors call this sensitization to different types of blood cells.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn is a problem because the baby can become anemic, which causes additional complications. Treatments are available for this condition. They include blood transfusions and medications known as intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
Doctors can also prevent the condition from occurring by giving a woman an injection known as a RhoGAM shot. A woman can get this shot around her 28th week of pregnancy if she has Rh negative blood.
Hemolytic Anemia in Children: Hemolytic anemia in children usually occurs after a viral illness. Causes are similar to those found in adults and include:
- infections;
- autoimmune diseases;
- Cancer ;
- medicines;
- A rare syndrome known as Evans syndrome;
Diagnosing Hemolytic Anemia: The diagnosis of hemolytic anemia usually begins with a review of your medical history and symptoms. During the physical exam, your doctor will check for pale or yellowish skin, and they may also gently press on different areas of your stomach to check for tenderness, which could indicate an enlarged liver or spleen.
If a doctor suspects anemia, they will order diagnostic tests. Blood tests that help diagnose hemolytic anemia include:
- Bilirubin, which is a test that measures the level of red blood cells your liver has broken down;
- Hemoglobin, which is a test that measures how many red blood cells you have
- Liver function tests;
- Reticulocyte count, which is a test that measures how much red blood cells your body is making
- If your doctor thinks your condition may be related to intrinsic anemia, they may have your blood samples seen under a microscope to examine their shape and size;
Other tests include a urine test to look for the presence of red blood cells. In some cases, a doctor may order a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy. This test can provide information about how many red blood cells are being made and their shape.
How Hemolytic Anemia is Treated: Treatment options for hemolytic anemia differ depending on the severity of the condition, your age, your health, and your tolerance to certain medications.
- blood transfusion;
- Intravenous immunoglobulin;
- Corticosteroid medication;
- surgery;
Blood Transfusion: A blood transfusion is given to quickly increase your red blood cell count and to replace destroyed red blood cells with new ones.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG): Low blood cell counts can negatively affect how your immune system fights infection. You may be given immunoglobulin intravenously in the hospital to improve your immune system function.
Corticosteroids : In the case of an extrinsic form of hemolytic anemia of autoimmune origin, corticosteroids are used to stop the immune system from producing antibodies that destroy red blood cells.
Surgery: In severe cases, your spleen may need to be removed. The spleen is where red blood cells are destroyed. Removing the spleen can reduce how quickly red blood cells are destroyed. However, this is usually used as an option only after all other treatments have been used.
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Hemolytic anemia can affect people of all ages and has numerous underlying causes. For some people, symptoms are mild and resolve over time and without treatment. Others may need care for the rest of their lives. Seeking care when a person has symptoms of anemia early on can be the first step to feeling better in the long run.