What Is Hemolytic Anemia?
Hemolytic anemia (HEE-moh-lit-ick uh-NEE-me-uh) is a
condition in which red blood cells are destroyed and removed from the
bloodstream before their normal lifespan is up.
Red blood cells are disc-shaped and look like
doughnuts without holes in the center. These cells carry oxygen and remove
carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your body. Red blood cells are made in
the bone marrowa sponge-like tissue inside the bones. They live for about
120 days in the bloodstream and then die.
White blood cells and platelets (PLATE-lets) also
are made in the bone marrow. White blood cells help fight infection. Platelets
stick together to seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop
bleeding.
When blood cells die, the body's bone marrow makes
more blood cells to replace them. However, in hemolytic anemia, the bone marrow
can't make red blood cells fast enough to meet the body's needs.
Hemolytic anemia can lead to various health
problems, such as fatigue (tiredness), pain,
arrhythmias
(ah-RITH-me-ahs), an enlarged heart, and
heart
failure.
Overview
Hemolytic anemia is a type of
anemia.
The term "anemia" usually refers to a condition in which your blood has a lower
than normal number of red blood cells. This condition also can occur if your
red blood cells don't contain enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). This
iron-rich protein helps carry oxygen to your body.
Anemia has three main causes: blood loss, lack of
red blood cell production, or high rates of red blood cell destruction.
Hemolytic anemia is due to high rates of red blood
cell destruction. A number of diseases, conditions, and factors can cause the
body to destroy its red blood cells.
These causes can be inherited or acquired.
"Inherited" means your parents passed the gene for the condition on to you.
"Acquired" means you aren't born with the condition, but you develop it.
Sometimes the cause of hemolytic anemia isn't known.
Outlook
There are many types of hemolytic anemia. Treatment
and outlook depend on what type you have and how severe it is. The condition
can develop suddenly or slowly. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Hemolytic anemia often can be successfully treated
or controlled. Mild hemolytic anemia may need no treatment at all. Severe
hemolytic anemia requires prompt and proper treatment or it may be fatal.
Inherited forms of hemolytic anemia are lifelong
conditions that may require ongoing treatment. Acquired forms of anemia may go
away if the cause of the condition is found and corrected.
February 2009 |