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Hemolytic anemia

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Definition:

Hemolytic anemia is a condition where there are not enough red blood cells in the blood. It is caused by premature destruction of red blood cells. There are a number of specific types of hemolytic anemia, which are described individually.

Alternative Names:

Anemia - hemolytic

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Hemolytic anemia occurs when the bone marrow is unable to make up for premature destruction of red blood cells by increasing their production. When the marrow is able to make up the loss, 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 (similar in symptoms to sickle-cell anemia)
• 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

• Review Date: 10/30/2006
• Reviewed By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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