Anemia resulting from the premature destruction of the peripheral blood red cells. It may be congenital or it may be caused by infections, medications, or malignancies.
Symptoms of Haemolytic Anaemia
The following features are indicative of Haemolytic Anaemia:
feeling weak or tired more often than usual, or with exercise
headaches
problems concentrating or thinking
lightheadedness when standing up
pale skin
shortness of breath
sore tongue
enlarged spleen
It is possible that Haemolytic Anaemia shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Haemolytic Anaemia
The following are the most common causes of Haemolytic Anaemia:
autoimmune problem
genetic defects within the red cells
blood clots in small blood vessels
transfusion of blood from a donor with a blood type that does not match
Risk Factors for Haemolytic Anaemia
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Haemolytic Anaemia:
sickle cell anemia
thalassemia
G6PD deficiency
autoimmune disorders
Prevention of Haemolytic Anaemia
No, it is not possible to prevent Haemolytic Anaemia.
autoimmune diseases
Occurrence of Haemolytic Anaemia
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Haemolytic Anaemia cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Haemolytic Anaemia can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Haemolytic Anaemia can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Haemolytic Anaemia
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Haemolytic Anaemia:
Donath-Landsteiner test: To detect harmful antibodies related to a rare disorder called paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
Absolute reticulocyte count test: To measure the amount of reticulocytes in the blood
Coombs test: To look for antibodies that cause early red blood cells death
Cold agglutinins: To measure the level of cold agglutinins in the blood
Platelet count: To measure the platelets in the blood
Protein electrophoresis - serum test: To measure types of protein in the fluid (serum) part of a blood sample
Pyruvate kinase: To measure the level of the enzyme pyruvate kinase in the blood
Serum haptoglobin levels test: To measure the the level of haptoglobin in blood
Serum LDH levels test: To measure the amount of LDH in the blood
Doctor for Diagnosis of Haemolytic Anaemia
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Haemolytic Anaemia:
Pediatricians
Family doctors
Gynecologists
Obstetricians
Internal medicine specialists
Hematologist
Gastroenterologist
Complications of Haemolytic Anaemia if untreated
Yes, Haemolytic Anaemia causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Haemolytic Anaemia is left untreated:
gallstones
pulmonary hypertension
Procedures for Treatment of Haemolytic Anaemia
The following procedures are used to treat Haemolytic Anaemia:
Blood transfusion: To transfuse blood in case of emergency
Self-care for Haemolytic Anaemia
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Haemolytic Anaemia:
Eat a vitamin-rich diet: Take a diet that includes a number of vitamins and nutrients
Genetic counseling: Talk to a genetic counselor about risks and pass on of the risks to children
Prevent malaria: Reduce exposure to mosquitoes
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Haemolytic Anaemia
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Haemolytic Anaemia:
Dietary Changes and Supplements: Change diet and take vitamin or iron supplements
Iron: Take iron from meats, vegetables or other foods
Time for Treatment of Haemolytic Anaemia
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Haemolytic Anaemia to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
