Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic Anemia
In this video, the speaker discusses hemolytic anemia. They define what it is and provide diagnostic markers to identify it. They also discuss the symptoms and types of hemolytic anemia.
Definition of Hemolytic Anemia
- Hemolytic anemia is when red blood cells are destroyed before they can reach their average lifespan of 120 days.
- This results in a decrease in erythrocyte levels or hemoglobin levels, which defines anemia.
Diagnostic Markers for Hemolytic Anemia
- Diagnostic markers for hemolytic anemia include low erythrocyte levels or low hemoglobin levels.
- The normal reference range for hemoglobin levels is 115 to 165 grams per liter, while the reference range for erythrocytes per liter of blood is typically 5.5 to 8.5 times ten to the ninth per liter.
Symptoms of Hemolytic Anemia
- Symptoms of hemolytic anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, jaundice, and dark urine.
- Other symptoms may include enlarged spleen or liver and rapid heart rate.
Types of Hemolytic Anemia
- There are several types of hemolytic anemia including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
- Sickle cell anemia is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the shape of red blood cells.
- Thalassemia is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the production of globin proteins in red blood cells.
- G6PD deficiency is caused by a genetic mutation that affects the ability of red blood cells to protect themselves from oxidative stress.
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys red blood cells.
Hemolytic Anemia
This section discusses the markers and clinical findings of hemolytic anemia.
Markers of Hemolytic Anemia
- Bilirubin: increased levels due to heme degradation product.
- Lactate dehydrogenase: increased levels due to erythrocytes relying on anaerobic metabolism.
- Decreased free haptoglobin: decrease in levels due to irreversible binding with hemoglobin.
- Increased reticulocyte count: compensatory mechanism for decreased erythrocyte count.
- Urine hemosiderin: storage form of iron released from erythrocytes.
Clinical Findings of Hemolytic Anemia
- Hemoglobinuria: dark urine due to increased hemoglobin excretion in urine.
- Splenomegaly: enlarged spleen due to increased RBC filtration.
- Jaundice: yellowing of skin and sclerae due to increased bilirubin levels.
- Scleral icterus is an indication of jaundice.
- Gallstones: increase in bile formation resulting in gallstones.
- Pulmonary hypertension: increase in hemoglobin causing pulmonary hypertension.
- Thrombosis: caused by a multitude of factors.
Types and Causes of Hemolytic Anemia
Immune Causes
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Types:
- Warm
- Cold
- Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria
Alloimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Transfusion reactions occur when a unit of blood with a different blood type is given, leading to hemolytic anemia.
Non-Immune Causes
- Membrane abnormalities
- Hemoglobinopathies
- Enzyme deficiencies
Hemolytic Anemia Lesson 1
In this lesson, we learn about hemolytic anemia and its causes.
Causes of Hemolytic Anemia
- Sickle-cell anemia causes problems in the structure of hemoglobin, which renders the red blood cell misshapen or misformed. This can lead to a degradation of the red blood cell.
- Red blood cells use glycolysis because they have no mitochondria. They require high levels of some enzymes, including glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase for the pentose phosphate shunt and pyruvate kinase for glycolysis.
- If either of these enzymes is deficient in any way, red blood cells will be in poor health and can die before their average lifespan of 120 days.
Hemolytic Anemia Lesson 2
In this lesson, we learn how to differentiate between immune and non-immune hemolytic anemia by laboratory test.
Differentiating Between Immune and Non-Immune Hemolytic Anemia
- Laboratory tests are used to differentiate between immune and non-immune hemolytic anemia.
- Specific details about each subtype of immune and non-immune hemolytic anemia will be discussed in future lessons.
Conclusion
Hemolytic anemia is caused by various factors that affect the health of red blood cells. Laboratory tests are used to differentiate between immune and non-immune types.