Hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals and toxins
Hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals and toxins is a lack of red blood cells that occurs when red blood cells are excessively damaged by certain chemicals or toxins.
Causes
Possible substances that can cause hemolytic anemia include:
- Anti-malaria drugs (quinine compounds)
- Arsenic
- Dapsone
- Intravenous water infusion (not half-normal saline or normal saline)
- Metals (chromium/chromates, platinum salts, nickel compounds, copper, lead, cis-platinum)
- Nitrites
- Nitrofurantoin
- Penicillin
- Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
- Rho immune globulin (WinRho)
- Ribavirin
- Snake bites (some snake venom contains hemolytic toxins)
- Sulfonamides
- Sulfones
This list is not all-inclusive.
Alternative Names
Anemia - hemolytic - caused by chemicals or toxins
References
Schwartz RS. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 163.
Schrier SL, Price EA. Extrinsic nonimmune hemolytic anemias. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SS, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 48.
Update Date: 2/19/2012
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; and 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.
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