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What depletes your red blood cells?

Your body makes normal red blood cells, but they are later destroyed. This may happen because of: Certain infections, which may be viral or bacterial. Medicines, such as penicillin, antimalarial medicines, sulfa medicines, or acetaminophen.

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What is hemolytic anemia?

Hemolytic anemia is a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made. The destruction of red blood cells is called hemolysis. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. If you have a lower than normal amount of red blood cells, you have anemia. When you have anemia, your blood can’t bring enough oxygen to all your tissues and organs. Without enough oxygen, your body can’t work as well as it should.

Hemolytic anemia can be inherited or acquired:

Inherited hemolytic anemia happens when parents pass the gene for the condition on to their children. happens when parents pass the gene for the condition on to their children. Acquired hemolytic anemia is not something you are born with. You develop the condition later.

What causes hemolytic anemia?

There are 2 main types of hemolytic anemia: inherited and acquired. Different diseases, conditions, or factors can cause each type:

Inherited

With the inherited type, parents pass the genes for the condition on to their children. Two common causes of this type of anemia are sickle cell anemia and thalassemia. These conditions produce red blood cells that don’t live as long as normal red blood cells.

Acquired

With this type of anemia, you are not born with a certain condition. Your body makes normal red blood cells, but they are later destroyed. This may happen because of:

Certain infections, which may be viral or bacterial

Medicines, such as penicillin, antimalarial medicines, sulfa medicines, or acetaminophen

Blood cancers

Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or ulcerative colitis

Certain tumors

An overactive spleen (hypersplenism)

Mechanical heart valves that may damage red blood cells as they leave the heart

A severe reaction to a blood transfusion

Some types of acquired hemolytic anemia are short-term (temporary) and go away over several months. Other types can become lifelong (chronic). They may go away and come back again over time.

What are the symptoms of hemolytic anemia?

Each person’s symptoms may vary. Symptoms may include:

Abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin

Yellowish skin, eyes, and mouth (jaundice)

Dark-colored urine

Fever

Weakness

Dizziness

Confusion

Can’t handle physical activity

Enlarged spleen and liver

Increased heart rate (tachycardia)

Heart murmur

The symptoms of hemolytic anemia may look like other blood conditions or health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is hemolytic anemia diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider may think you have hemolytic anemia based on your symptoms, your medical history, and a physical exam. Your provider may also order the following tests: Complete blood count (CBC). This test measures many different parts of your blood. This test measures many different parts of your blood. Other blood tests. If the CBC test shows that you have anemia, you may have other blood tests. These can find out what type of anemia you have and how serious it is.

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If the CBC test shows that you have anemia, you may have other blood tests. These can find out what type of anemia you have and how serious it is. Urine test. This can check for hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells) and iron. This can check for hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells) and iron. Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy. This involves taking a small sample of bone marrow fluid (aspiration) or solid bone marrow tissue (called a core biopsy). The sample is usually taken from the hip bones. It is checked for the number, size, and maturity of blood cells or abnormal cells.

How is hemolytic anemia treated?

Your healthcare provider will create a treatment plan based on:

Your age, overall health, and medical history

How sick you are

The cause of the disease

How well you handle certain medicines, treatments, or therapies

If your condition is expected to get worse

Your opinion or preference

The treatment for hemolytic anemia will vary depending on the cause of the illness. Treatment may include:

Blood transfusions

Corticosteroid medicines

Treatment to strengthen your immune system (using intravenous immune globulin)

Rituximab

In more severe cases, the following treatments may be needed:

Surgery to remove the spleen

Medicine to reduce the strength of your immune system (immunosuppressive therapy)

Living with hemolytic anemia

Work with your healthcare provider to reduce your risk of red blood cell breakdown, and your risk of infections. For example, cold weather can often trigger the breakdown of red blood cells. To protect yourself, avoid the cold, wear warm clothes, and keep your home warmer.

You can also reduce your risk of infections by:

Staying away from people who are sick

Avoiding large crowds

Washing your hands often

Avoiding undercooked foods

Brushing your teeth regularly

Getting a flu shot each year

Key points about hemolytic anemia

Hemolytic anemia is a disorder in which the red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are made. Inherited hemolytic anemia means that parents pass the gene for the condition on to their children. Acquired hemolytic anemia is not something you are born with. You develop the condition later. Symptoms include weakness, paleness, jaundice, dark-colored urine, fever, inability to do physical activity, and heart murmur.