Hemolysis: Signs, Causes, Treatment And Prevention

A male doctor dropping a blood drop in a test tube.

Erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), are one of the essential elements of blood. They assist in carrying oxygen from and to the lungs and have the form of a mildly indented, flattened disc. A healthy red blood cell lives for around four months on average. Hemolysis is the mechanism through which the body eliminates worn-out or damaged red blood cells in the spleen and other regions of the body.

Red blood cells are normally replaced fast by the body, which produces roughly two million blood cells each second. Nonetheless, if the human body has a low amount of red blood cells due to excessive hemolysis, people may develop anemic symptoms.

Hemolytic anemia comes in various forms, each of which is diagnosed by a specialist depending on the underlying source of the anemia. A variety of factors can cause hemolysis that occurs too quickly or too frequently. Hemolytic anemia can be moderate or severe, developing abruptly or slowly. Some of the indications and symptoms are weakness, heart palpitations, dizziness, pale skin, disorientation, or a liver or spleen that is bigger than usual. Untreated or poorly managed severe hemolytic anemia can lead to significant problems.

According to a medical research survey, hemolytic anemia affects around 1 to 3 individuals per 100,000 people per year. Although the disease is rare, it can still prove fatal if left untreated. One should consult a doctor if they feel any of the symptoms of hemolysis, or people can also opt for mobile phlebotomy services Baltimore to conduct home blood tests. Mobile phlebotomy companies like Phlebotomy on Wheels offer mobile lab services fairfax and can collect and deliver specimens from any place you want.

Here’s a detailed preview of hemolysis. Read on to find out what hemolysis is, some of its types, some common symptoms and causes, and how you can diagnose and treat it.

What is Hemolysis?

The disintegration of red blood cells is known as hemolysis. Hemolysis is also known by other names such as erythrolysis, erythrocytosis, or hematolysis. Hemolysis is a normal biological mechanism when red blood cells (RBCs) grow too old to function properly. Red blood cells lose some features and become less effective as they grow. For instance, they might be deprived of their deformability, which permits them to alter structure reversibly to move through blood arteries.

Red blood cells acquire cues that trigger erythrocyte changeover when they begin to lose functioning. The spleen is where the body normally produces hemolysis. This organ may identify any damaged or old red blood cells when blood passes through it. Macrophages, big white blood cells, then break down the red blood cells. Some diseases, drugs, and poisons, on the other hand, can cause red blood cells to break down more quickly than they usually do.

A medical practitioner can measure the hematocrit levels of an individual. The proportion of red blood cells in the body is referred to as this. The average hematocrit level varies based on many factors, including race and age. On the other hand, low levels may indicate a high red blood cells turnover.

Types of Hemolysis

Based on several factors, hemolysis can be of different types. Following are some common types of hemolytic anemia.

Intrinsic Hemolysis

Intrinsic hemolytic anemia or hemolysis occurs when the red blood cells present in a person’s body fail to work normally. Individuals with thalassemia or sickle cell anemia with defective hemoglobin are more likely to develop this problem. However, sometimes, an inherited metabolic anomaly, such as deficiency of G6PD, or the instability of red blood cell membrane, like hereditary spherocytosis, can cause this illness. Hemolytic anemia can strike anyone at any age.

Extrinsic Hemolysis

Another type of hemolysis, extrinsic hemolytic anemia, can be caused by several factors, including the spleen trapping and destroying the red blood cells that are still healthy and active, or an immunological reaction. Tumors, infection, side effects of drugs, autoimmune diseases, lymphoma, and leukemia can all cause red blood cell loss.

Inherited Hemolysis

One or multiple genes that drive red blood cell formation are defective in hereditary hemolytic anemia. This can cause difficulties with hemoglobin, cell membranes, or enzymes that keep red blood cells active. It’s possible that the aberrant cells are frail and will break down as they travel through the circulation. If this occurs, the spleen, an organ, might eliminate the red blood cells waste from the circulation.

Autoimmune Hemolysis

The body’s immune system kills the red blood cells in immunological hemolytic anemia. Drug-induced immune, alloimmune, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia are three of its primary kinds. An individual’s immune system produces proteins (antibodies) that assault the red blood cells when someone has this illness. It’s unclear why this occurs. Half of all instances of hemolytic anemia are caused by Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia. Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia can develop fast and become dangerous. Certain disorders or infections might make you more susceptible to Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia.

Mechanical Hemolysis

As the name suggests, this is caused by physical damage. Physical damage to red blood cells or the human body can cause the membranes of red blood cells to break down more quickly than they usually do, resulting in mechanical hemolytic anemia. It can happen due to multiple factors. Some of its factors include a heart-lung bypass device, an artificial heart valve, malignant hypertension, preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), eclampsia (a condition that can cause seizures in pregnant women), and changes in small bloodstreams.

Causes of Hemolytic Anemia

It’s conceivable that a medical practitioner won’t be able to figure out what’s causing hemolytic anemia in a patient. This disorder, however, can be caused by a variety of conditions and even some drugs. Hemolytic anemia can be caused by several things, including infectious hepatitis, enlarged spleen, typhoid fever, Epstein-Bar virus, lymphoma, E. coli toxin, leukemia, lupus, and tumors.

As mentioned above, hemolytic anemia can sometimes be caused by taking specific drugs. Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is the name for this condition. Antibiotics like penicillin, cephalexin, methicillin, rifampin, chlorpromazine, ceftriaxone, ampicillin, ibuprofen, interferon-alpha, and procainamide are some examples of drugs that may cause the illness. The type of hemolytic anemia produced by getting an RBC transfusion of the incorrect blood type is one of the most serious.

Everyone has a different blood type. If an individual is given a mismatched blood type, antibodies, which are specialized immune proteins, will assault the unwanted red blood cells. Consequently, red blood cells are destroyed exceedingly quickly, which can be fatal. This is why, before providing blood, medical professionals must thoroughly verify blood types. Hemolytic anemia can be caused by various factors, some of which are just transient. If a physician can detect and treat the root cause of hemolytic anemia, it may be cured.

Symptoms of Hemolysis

Since hemolytic anemia has several diverse causes, each individual can have various symptoms. Nonetheless, when it comes to hemolytic anemia, several people face certain common symptoms. Some of the symptoms of hemolytic anemia overlap with those of other types of anemia.

Symptoms of hemolysis include:

Hemolysis can result in weakness
People suffering from hemolytic anemia can get tired quickly after doing physical work
Dizziness and lightheadedness are also common symptoms of hemolysis
Hemolytic anemia patients can feel high fever at times
Paleness of the skin indicates that a patient might have hemolysis
Enlarged liver or spleen is a common hemolysis symptom
Heart rate can also increase in people suffering from hemolytic anemia

Diagnosing Hemolysis

A study of an individual’s medical history and symptoms is frequently the first step in diagnosing hemolytic anemia. The physical practitioner will look for yellow or pale skin during the physical exam. They may also simply press on various parts of your belly to feel for pain, which might suggest an enlarged liver or spleen. If the medical practitioner detects anemia, diagnostic testing will be conducted next. These blood tests aid in the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia by determining:

Hemoglobin: This test indicates the number of RBCs indirectly circulating in the blood.
Bilirubin: This blood test will determine how much hemoglobin from red blood cells your liver is breaking down and digesting.
Count of Reticulocytes: This medical test will determine how much immature RBC, which grows into red blood cells over time, is produced by the body.
Liver Function: The amounts of liver enzymes, bilirubin, and proteins in the blood are measured in this test.

If the doctor suspects that the disease is caused by intrinsic hemolytic anemia, the patient’s blood samples might be examined microscopically to determine their form and structure. A urine test for RBC breakdown is one of the several diagnostics available. A physician may prescribe a biopsy or bone marrow aspiration in some instances. These tests can reveal how many RBCs are being produced and their morphology.

Treating Hemolysis

There are several treatment options available for treating hemolytic anemia. The treatment options depend on the root cause of anemia, age, severity, and drug tolerance. Some common hemolysis treatments include Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG), blood transfusion, surgery, and immunosuppressant.

Intravenous Immune Globulin

IVIG is one of the best treatment options for treating hemolytic anemia if the root cause of hemolysis is the immune system. It is a product composed of antibodies that can be induced through veins. These antibodies will help to fight infections and treat hemolysis. In diseases related to the immune system like hemolysis, this method can increase the count of red blood cells.

By Blood Transfusion

A blood transfusion is also a common and popular method many doctors use to increase red blood cell count in patients. By blood transfusion, the new red blood cells replace the destroyed or damaged RBCs and can help to fight several infections. Blood transfusion can also help save a person’s life if they have lost blood due to injury or accident.

By Surgery

In extreme circumstances, the enlarged spleen may be removed if prescribed by the doctor since red blood cells are eliminated in the spleen. Hence, the spleen can be removed to slow down the destruction of red blood cells. This is typically a last resort in situations with immunological hemolysis that do not react to corticosteroids or related immunosuppressants.

Get Tested For Hemolysis From The Comfort of Your Home With Phlebotomy on Wheels

Hemolysis or hemolytic anemia can be a critical blood disorder if not diagnosed or treated on time. It can increase the risk of infections and other diseases since it affects the immune system. People can now test for hemolysis from the comfort of their homes with the help of mobile phlebotomy. Mobile phlebotomists can come to your home, workplace, or a public place to conduct your blood test.

Phlebotomy on Wheels is one of the best mobile lab service providers in Maryland. We started our operations in 2013 with the sole purpose of serving the community. We have certified and licensed mobile phlebotomists to offer you the best mobile phlebotomy services. We offer home blood draw services, mobile phlebotomy services, commercial mobile lab services, etc.