Empeiria

Anaemia from red cells breaking down too fast

Clinically: Haemolytic anaemia · also hemolytic anemia, haemolytic anemia, hemolysis, haemolysis, red cells destroyed too fast, red blood cells breaking down

hematologic MONDO MONDO:0003664 unverified
This describes what this condition typically looks like. It is not a diagnosis and cannot tell you whether you have it -- patterns overlap, results vary between labs, and the same numbers mean different things in different people. Diagnosis usually rests on Hemoglobin, interpreted alongside symptoms and history rather than read off a report.

unverified These explanations are written to be easy to read and have not yet been checked against a source. The ranges and measurement notes on this page show theirs.

definition unverified

Your red blood cells are being destroyed faster than your body can replace them, so you end up with too few.

Anaemia caused by destruction of red blood cells (haemolysis) at a rate high enough to lower haemoglobin below the normal range. Haemolytic markers include raised reticulocytes, raised LDH, reduced haptoglobin and unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia.

caveats unverified

Mild haemolytic anaemia may cause no symptoms. The blood markers of red cell breakdown can also be raised for other reasons. For example, Gilbert syndrome raises bilirubin, and low B12 can raise LDH.

Mild haemolytic anaemia may cause no symptoms. The blood markers of red cell breakdown can also be raised for other reasons. For example, Gilbert syndrome raises bilirubin, and low B12 can raise LDH.

No clinical version written yet.

The typical lab pattern

What the diagnosis rests on

The results a diagnosis is actually made on.

Hemoglobin low — Part of the definition (review article, not a formal diagnostic criterion): haemolysis becomes haemolytic anaemia once haemoglobin falls below the normal range. Haemoglobin also shows how severe it is and is used to follow treatment.
Consistent with it

Fits the picture, but not enough on its own.

Lactate dehydrogenase high — A marker of red cells breaking down inside blood vessels. A marked rise is typical of that kind of haemolysis. It can also be raised for other reasons, such as low B12.
Bilirubin, total high — Bilirubin comes from broken-down red cells, so it rises in haemolytic anaemia. The rise is in the unconjugated (indirect) part. Gilbert syndrome and liver disease can also raise it.
Ferritin high — Ferritin can be high when red cell breakdown has gone on for a long time.
Platelet count low — Checked to find the type of haemolytic anaemia. A low platelet count points to a clotting disorder of small vessels or Evans syndrome.

How it usually feels

Frequencies say how often a symptom accompanies this condition — not the other way round. Most people with any of these symptoms do not have this.