Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic anemia is a blood disorder that typically happens when your red blood cells break down or die faster than your body can replace them with new blood cells.
Hemolytic anemia can develop quickly or slowly, and it can be mild or serious.
People may develop hemolytic anemia by inheriting genetic conditions that cause anemia, certain infections and certain medications.
Sometimes, people have mild hemolytic anemia symptoms that go away after treatment. Many times, healthcare providers can cure hemolytic anemia after finding out what caused the condition. Left untreated, however, severe hemolytic anemia can cause serious heart trouble.
Red blood cells normally live for about 120 days. When they break down or die sooner than that, your bone marrow doesn’t have time to produce enough new red blood cells, leaving you with a low red blood cell count. Other anemia types may occur when:
- Injury or illness causes excessive bleeding that drains your red blood cell supply faster than your body can replace it.
- Something affects red blood cell production so your body either produces fewer red blood cells or produces abnormal red blood cells.
Hemolytic anemia is less common than anemia caused by excessive bleeding or slow red blood cell production.
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Biomarkers related to this condition:
This test measures the amount of G6PD in red blood cells to help diagnose a G6PD deficiency. G6PD deficiency is an inherited condition. It is when the body doesn’t have enough of an enzyme called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase).
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Learn moreGlucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, often abbreviated as G6PD (or G-6-PD), plays a critical role in the body's cellular function. This enzyme is vital for the health of all cells, but it's particularly crucial for red blood cells. G6P
Learn moreGLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE helps red blood cells (RBCs) function normally. It also protects them from potentially harmful byproducts that can accumulate when your body is fighting infection or as the result of certain medications. A lack of GL
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