Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic anemia is a blood deficiency disorder that occurs because red blood cells are destroyed faster than new cells can be formed. This health problem requires immediate and rapid treatment to prevent dangerous complications in the heart organ, such as heart failure.
This disease can occur from birth due to direct genetics passed down from parents. In addition, this disease can also develop after birth. Conditions that are not hereditary can be due to certain medical conditions, excessive exposure to chemical compounds, to side effects from consuming drugs.
Some things that cause hemolytic anemia can be treated to address the underlying cause. However, there are also conditions when hemolytic anemia occurs for a long time or chronically, especially those that occur due to heredity from parents.
Symptoms of Hemolytic Anemia
Symptoms of this disease can be mild when the disease is just entering its early stages. However, symptoms will get worse, can happen suddenly or slowly.
The signs that appear are different for each sufferer, but common symptoms include:
- Skin looks pale.
- Often have headaches.
- The body quickly feels tired.
- Fever.
- Dark-colored urine.
- The whites of the eyes and skin turn yellow or develop jaundice.
- The stomach feels very uncomfortable due to the enlargement of the liver and spleen.
- Heart palpitations often.
Causes of Hemolytic Anemia
Several conditions that can cause hemolytic anemia due to genetic inheritance from parents, namely:
- Sickle cell anemia, which is an abnormal form of red blood cells so that they cannot flow smoothly in the blood vessels.
- Thalassemia, a blood disorder in which there is too little hemoglobin in red blood cells.
- Ovalocytosis, which is the shape of red blood cells that are oval or elliptical.
- Spherocytosis, which is molecular damage to red blood cells.
- Lack of pyruvate kinase enzyme.
- lack of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Meanwhile, there are also conditions that are not due to hereditary factors and can trigger hemolytic anemia, including:
- Infections, such as hepatitis, typhoid, bacterial or viral infections.
- Problems related to autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
- Side effects of using certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, levodopa, rifampicin, methyldopa, dapsone, and certain types of antibiotics.
- Cancer, especially blood cancer.
- Venomous snake bite.
- Lead and arsenic poisoning.
- Have received a blood transfusion from a donor with a different blood type.
- The body’s reaction to having undergone organ transplant surgery.
- Lack of vitamin E intake, especially in premature babies.
Risk Factors for Hemolytic Anemia
There are also several factors that can increase a person’s risk of experiencing this condition, including:
- Newborn baby.
- Have a history of autoimmune disease.
- Have a family history of thalassemia.
- Receiving a blood transfusion.
- Taking medication.
Diagnosis of Hemolytic Anemia
In order to get a more accurate diagnosis, the doctor will first ask about the symptoms felt by the sufferer. He will also ask about the sufferer’s medical history, and his family members to find out if any family members have ever had anemia.
Then, the doctor will perform a skin examination. This examination aims to see whether the skin looks yellow or pale.
The doctor will also feel and press the sufferer’s stomach to find out if there is an enlargement of the spleen and liver. If the doctor suspects symptoms of the disease, the doctor will perform several supporting examinations, such as:
- Complete blood count to determine the number of blood cells in the body.
- Bilirubin levels, which are residual compounds that come from the process of destroying red blood cells, can cause jaundice.
- The Coombs test is used to determine the possibility that antibodies are attacking red blood cells.
- Bone marrow aspiration, to determine the shape and level of maturity of red blood cells.
Hemolytic Anemia Treatment
Hemolytic anemia therapy can be done depending on several factors, such as the age of the sufferer, overall health, and medical history. In addition, the doctor can recommend treatment according to the cause. Some things that may be considered by the doctor to choose the type of therapy are the level and cause of the condition and tolerance for drugs, procedures, and therapies.
Meanwhile, possible therapies that can be given to hemolytic anemia sufferers include:
- Folic acid therapy
Folic acid functions as a medicine for several types of anemia that occur due to folic acid deficiency. This therapy can be done by sufferers along with taking other drugs.
- Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can be given to people with hemolytic anemia with autoimmune diseases. The goal is to help the body’s immunity. Before doing this therapy, you can find out about the Side Effects of Long-Term Corticosteroid Consumption.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin G
This therapy also aims to increase antibodies in people with immunodeficiency diseases.
- Erythropoietin therapy
Doctors can give this therapy to people with kidney failure. Erythropoietin drugs function to help the body increase the production of red blood cells.
- Do not continue taking medications that carry a risk of causing hemolytic anemia.
Some conditions that lead to individuals having high levels of hemolytic anemia require hospitalization and treatment as follows:
- Blood transfusion
This therapy is usually given by doctors to sufferers who are already in a severe stage or with heart or lung disorders, thalassemia or sickle cell anemia. One of the side effects of this therapy is the accumulation of iron in the body due to repeated transfusions. This condition can be corrected with iron chelation therapy.
- Spleen removal surgery
This procedure can be an option in cases of hemolysis that do not respond to corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. In this operation, the spleen can be removed partially or completely. Spleen removal surgery only needs to be done by doctors if there is fatal damage to the organ.
Prevention of Hemolytic Anemia
There is no way to prevent inherited hemolytic anemia from your parents. However, there are exceptions, such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. If someone is born with G6PD deficiency, prevention can be achieved by avoiding substances that can trigger the condition.
For example, avoid fava beans, naphthalene (a substance found in some moths), camphor, and certain medications. There are also some types of these conditions that you can prevent, such as reactions to blood transfusions. This requires careful matching of blood types between blood donors and recipients.