Types Of Hemolytic Anemia, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Conditions

By Kenneth Kee

Hemolytic anemia is the breakup of red blood cells in the blood earlier than normal.
Hemolytic anemia is a condition in which the body destroys too many red blood cells.
Inherited or acquired conditions or factors can cause hemolytic anemia.
Inherited hemolytic anemia is condition such as G6PD Deficiency.
Other examples include:
1. Immune disorders,
Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when the immune system mistakenly sees the own red blood cells as foreign substances.
Antibodies then develop against the red blood cells.
These antibodies attack the red blood cells and cause them to break down too early.
2. Infections
3. Certain medicines,
4. Reactions to blood transfusions.
Hemolytic anemia occurs when excessive red blood cells that are being destroyed before the bone marrow could replace them.
The body may also destroy red blood cells because of certain genetic defects that cause the blood cells to take on abnormal shapes (such as sickle cell)
1. Auto-Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when the immune system produces antibodies against the red blood cells.
These antibodies attack the red blood cells and cause them to break down too early.
2. Certain genetic defects such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency
3. Exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, and toxins
4. Infections
5. Blood clots in small blood vessels
6. Transfusion of blood
Early Symptoms may include:
1. Fatigue or weakness with exercise
2. Feeling grumpy
3. Giddiness
4. Headaches
5. Concentration or thinking problems
These tests can identify the type of hemolytic anemia:
a. Absolute reticulocyte count
b. Coombs' test, direct
c. Coombs' test, indirect
d. Donath-Landsteiner test
e. Febrile or cold agglutinins
f. Free hemoglobin in the serum or urine
g. Hemosiderin in the urine
i. Protein electrophoresis - serum
j. Urine and fecal urobilinogen
k. Platelet count
l. Serum haptoglobin levels
m. Serum LDH
A test that measures how long red blood cells last using radioactive tagging techniques can also help diagnose hemolytic anemia
Treatment depends on the type and cause of the hemolytic anemia.
1. In emergencies, a blood transfusion may be needed.
2. For hemolytic anemia caused by an overactive immune system, drugs that suppress the immune system may be used.
3. Extra folic acid and iron supplements to replace what is being lost.
4. The spleen may need to be removed, because it acts as a filter, removing abnormal cells from the blood.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Hemolytic Anemia
Chapter 2 More Facts about Hemolytic Anemia
Chapter 3 Treatment of Hemolytic Anemia
Chapter 4 Anemia
Chapter 5 Sickle Cell Anemia
Chapter 6 G6PD Deficiency
Chapter 7 Iron Deficiency Anemia
Chapter 8 Thalassemia
Epilogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kenneth Kee
• Release date: Dec 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370197507

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

Book preview

Types

Of

Hemolytic

Anemias,

A

Simple Guide

To

The Condition,

Treatment

And

Related Conditions

by

Dr Kenneth Kee

M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

Copyright Kenneth Kee 2014 Smashwords Edition

Published By Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

Dedication

This book is dedicated

to my wife Dorothy

and my children

Carolyn, Grace

and Kelvin

This book describes the Types of Hemolytic

Anemia, Treatment and Associated Diseases or in vernacular terms

(What You Need to Treat and Cope with Hemolytic Anemia)

This eBook is licensed for the personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Introduction

Ode To Hemolytic Anemia

Hemolytic Anemia you cause me to look pale

The pallor is in my skin, mouth and nail

The reason is hemolysis or breakup of my red blood cells

The breakup of my cell matrix leaves me with empty shells

The hemoglobin gives the RBC their red color

With less hemoglobin in the cell comes the pallor

Hemoglobin also carries oxygen to my body and brain

Without the oxygen in my cells I will feel drained

There may be difficulty in breathing

The heart rate may be fast and racing

Brain confusion, lethargy and giddiness

There will be also muscle weakness

Antibodies in the immune system and toxins result in red blood cells bursting

My hemoglobin is taken up and dumped in my spleen and urine

Treatment is by extra iron and folic acid or blood transfusions

Replacement of blood may be necessary for blood depletion

-An original poem by Kenneth Kee

Interesting Tips about the Hemolytic Anemia

A Healthy Lifestyle

1. Take a well Balanced Diet

2. Treatment depends on the type and cause of the hemolytic anemia. 

a. In emergencies, a blood transfusion may be needed.

b. For hemolytic anemia caused by an overactive immune system, drugs that suppress the immune system may be used.

c. The spleen may need to be removed, because it acts as a filter, removing abnormal cells from the blood.

d. Treat the underlying cause of the Anemia.

e. Eat a well-balanced diet that includes good sources of

i. Iron (liver, meat, peas, beans, whole grain),

ii. Vitamin B12 (foods of animal origin only, including meats, liver and kidney, milk, cheese, fish, shell fish and eggs)

iii. Folic acid (present in most vegetables).

iv. Vitamin C can make the stomach more acidic and can improve the absorption of iron in the diet.

3. Keep bones and body strong

Bone marrow produces our blood

Eat foods rich in calcium like yogurt, cheese, milk, and dark green vegetables.

Eat foods rich in Vitamin D, like eggs, fatty fish, cereal, and fortified milk.

Eat food rich in Vitamins B and C such as green vegetables and fruits

Zinc and other minerals are important to the body

4. Get enough rest and Sleep

Avoid stress and tension

5. Exercise and stay active.

It is best to do weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights for 2½ hours a week.

One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.

Begin slowly especially if a person has not been active.

6. Do not drink more than 2 alcohol drinks a day for a man or 1 alcohol drink a day for a woman.

Alcohol use also increases the chance of falling and breaking a bone.

Alcohol can affect the neurons and brain cells.

7. Stop or do not begin smoking.

It also interferes with blood supply and healing.

Cigarettes contain more than forty types of hazardous and possibly cancer causing chemicals which can harm the smokers and those around them.

Chapter 1

Hemolytic Anemia

What is hemolytic anemia?

Hemolytic anemia is the breakup of red blood cells in the blood earlier than normal.

Hemolytic anemia is a condition in which the body destroys too many red blood cells.

Inherited or acquired conditions or factors can cause hemolytic anemia.

Inherited hemolytic anemia is condition such as G6PD Deficiency.

Other examples include:

1. Immune disorders,

Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when the immune system mistakenly sees the own red blood cells as foreign substances.

Antibodies then develop against the red blood cells.

These antibodies attack the red blood cells and cause them to break down too early.

2. Infections

3. Certain medicines,

4. Reactions to blood transfusions.

What are the causes of hemolytic anemia?

Hemolytic anemia occurs when excessive red blood cells that are being destroyed before the bone marrow could replace them.

The body may also destroy red blood cells because of certain genetic defects that cause the blood cells to take on abnormal shapes (such as sickle cell)

1. Auto-Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when the immune system produces antibodies against the red blood cells.

These antibodies attack the red blood cells and cause them to break down too early.

2. Certain genetic defects such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency

3. Exposure to certain chemicals, drugs, and toxins

4. Infections

5. Blood clots in small blood vessels

6. Transfusion of blood from a donor with a blood type that does not match yours

What are the Symptoms of hemolytic anemia?

There are no symptoms if the anemia is mild.

Early Symptoms may include:

1. Fatigue or weakness with exercise

2. Feeling grumpy

3. Giddiness

4. Headaches

5. Concentration or thinking problems

More severe symptoms may include:

1. Pallor

2. Blue color to the whites of the eyes

3. Brittle nails

4. Shortness of breath

5. Sore tongue

6. Light-headedness when you stand up

How is Hemolytic anemia diagnosed?