Hemolytic anemia occurs when the bone marrow is unable to increase production to make up for the premature destruction of red blood cells. If the bone marrow is able to keep up with the early destruction, anemia does not occur (this is sometimes called compensated hemolysis).
There are many types of hemolytic anemia, which are classified by the reason for the premature destruction of red blood cells. The defect may be in the red blood cell itself (intrinsic factors), or outside the red blood cell (extrinsic factors).
Intrinsic factors are often present at birth (hereditary). They include: Abnormalities in the proteins that build normal red blood cells Differences in the protein inside a red blood cell that carries oxygen (hemoglobin)
Extrinsic factors include: Abnormal immune system responses Blood clots in small blood vessels Certain infections Side effects from medications
Types of hemolytic anemia:
Secondary immune hemolytic anemia Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia Non-immune hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals or toxins Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) Sickle-cell anemia Hemoglobin SC disease (similar in symptoms to sickle-cell anemia) Thalassemia Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) Hereditary elliptocytosis Hereditary ovalocytosis Hereditary spherocytosis Malaria Transfusion of blood from a donor with a different blood type
What causes Hemolytic anemia?
Hemolytic anemia occurs when the bone marrow is unable to increase production to make up for the premature destruction of red blood cells. If the bone marrow is able to keep up with the early destruction, anemia does not occur (this is sometimes called compensated hemolysis).
There are many types of hemolytic anemia, which are classified by the reason for the premature destruction of red blood cells. The defect may be in the red blood cell itself (intrinsic factors), or outside the red blood cell (extrinsic factors).
Intrinsic factors are often present at birth (hereditary). They include: Abnormalities in the proteins that build normal red blood cells Differences in the protein inside a red blood cell that carries oxygen (hemoglobin)
Extrinsic factors include: {{NAME}} immune system responses {{NAME}} clots in small blood vessels Certain infections Side effects from medications
Types of hemolytic anemia:
Secondary immune hemolytic anemia Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic {{NAME}} hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals or toxins {{NAME}} hemolytic anemia ({{ORGANIZATION}}) Sickle-cell anemia {{NAME}} disease (similar in symptoms to sickle-cell anemia) Thalassemia Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) Hereditary elliptocytosis Hereditary ovalocytosis Hereditary spherocytosis Malaria Transfusion of blood from a donor with a different blood type