Basic Features
Hemolytic anemia involves the following:
- Abnormal and accelerated destruction of red cells and, in some anemias, their precursors
- Increased breakdown of hemoglobin, which may result in:
- increased bilirubin level (mainly indirect-reacting) with jaundice
- increased fecal and urinary urobilinogen
- Hemoglobinanemia, methemalbuminemia, hemoglobinuria and hemosiderinuria (where there is significant intravascular hemolysis).
- Bone marrow compensatory reaction:
- Erythroid hyperplasia with accelerated production of red cells, reflected by reticulocytosis, and slight macrocytosis in peripheral blood
- Expansion of bone marrow in infants and children with severe chronic hemolysis - changes in bone configuration visible on X-ray
- The balance between red cell destruction and marrow compensation determines the severity of anemias.
Read more about this topic: Hemolytic Anemia
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