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Hemolytic anemia - Symptom

Alternative Names

Anemia - hemolytic

Symptoms:

Signs and tests:

These are tests for red blood cell destruction (hemolysis). Specific tests can identify the types of hemolytic anemia. They are usually performed when hemolysis is suspected or has been determined.

Absolute reticulocyte count
Free hemoglobin in the serum or urine
Hemosiderin in the urine
Red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin
Serum haptoglobin levels
Serum indirect bilirubin levels
Serum LDH
Urine and fecal urobilinogen

Directly measuring the red cell life span with radioactive tagging techniques shows a shortened life span.

This disease may also affect the following test results, depending on the specific cause:

Red blood cells, sickle cell

Red blood cells, multiple sickle cells

Red blood cells, sickle cells

Red blood cells, sickle and pappenheimer

Blood cells

Reviewed last on: 11/23/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Schwartz RS. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 164.

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