Hemoglobinemia (or haemoglobinaemia) is a medical condition in which there is an excess of hemoglobin in the blood plasma. This is an effect of intravascular hemolysis, in which hemoglobin separates from red blood cells, a form of anemia. Hemoglobinemia can be caused by intrinsic or extrinsic factors. When hemoglobinemia is internally caused, it is a result of recessive genetic defects that cause the red blood cells to lyse, letting the hemoglobin spill out of the cell into the blood plasma. In intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobin is released and binds with haptoglobin. This causes haptoglobin levels to decrease. Once haptoglobin is saturated, free hemoglobin readily distributes to tissues where it might be exposed to oxidative conditions. In such conditions, heme can be released from ferric hemoglobin. The free heme can then accelerate tissue damage by promoting peroxidative reactions and activation of inflammatory cascades. Hemopexin (Hx) is another plasma glycoprotein able to bind heme with high affinity. Hx sequesters heme in an inert, non-toxic form and transports it to the liver for catabolism and excretion. As long as both haptoglobin and hemopexin are saturated, the remaining free hemoglobins are filtered in the kidney and some of them will be reabsorbed by way of proximal tubules. In externally caused hemoglobinemia, an outside attacker acts as an antibody against the red blood cells. This can cause the cells to be destroyed and their hemoglobin released.
13.5 and 18 g/dl are the lower and upper limits of the acceptable range. For women, 12.0 to 15.5 grams per deciliter 12 and 16 g/dl are the lower and upper limits of the acceptable range. Treatment
High hemoglobin levels are a rare occurrence but is usually treated as a symptom for an underlying disease. Consulting a doctor is the best treatment, so they can diagnose your illness and give a recommended treatment plan to lower hemoglobin levels back to normal. See also
Coagulation
Blood diseases
Methemoglobinemia, an abnormal amount of methemoglobin which is carrying oxygen but unable to release it effectively to body tissues, is produced. References
"Hemolytic Anemia". University of Virginia Health System. Retrieved 2009-05-01.