What Causes Hemolytic Anemia?

There are many different types of hemolytic anemia. The immediate cause of hemolytic anemia is the early destruction (hemolysis) of red blood cells. The factors that cause early hemolysis can be inherited or acquired. Sometimes, the cause of early hemolysis is not known.

Causes of Inherited Hemolytic Anemia

In inherited hemolytic anemias, there is a problem with the genes that control the production of red blood cells. People with an inherited hemolytic anemia received a defective red blood cell gene from one (or both) of their parents. Different types of defective genes account for the different types of inherited hemolytic anemias. In each of the types of inherited hemolytic anemia, the body produces abnormal red blood cells. The red blood cell abnormality can involve the cell membrane (the outer covering of the cell), the chemistry inside the cell, or the production of abnormal hemoglobin.

Causes of Acquired Hemolytic Anemia

In acquired types of hemolytic anemia, the body produces normal red blood cells, but some disease or other factor destroys the cells prematurely. The destruction of red blood cells can be caused by an immune disorder, infection, reaction to a medicine, or reaction to a transfusion. The early destruction of cells usually occurs in the spleen or the bloodstream. The spleen is an organ in the upper left part of the abdomen that helps remove abnormal blood cells from the bloodstream.