Diseases that are accompanied by the destruction of erythrocytes at the intracellular or intravascular level combined one group called hemolytic anemia. It is characterized by premature death of erythrocytes due to various factors. Stability of erythrocytes depends on cell proteins, hemoglobin, physical properties of blood and other components. Because of the disturbance of the constituents of the medium or fragments of the erythrocyte, it begins to disintegrate.
Hemolytic anemia - classification
Anemia should be divided into congenital and acquired.
Acquired are of such types:
- immune forms of anemia, they include autoimmune hemolytic anemia and immune;
- Non-immune, caused by the administration of drugs or because of tumors and infections.
In some cases, acquired anemia may be a temporary phenomenon, others may go into a chronic stage.
Hereditary hemolytic anemia
They arise because of the defects of the red bodies themselves. Determine it can be at an early age, if you pay attention to reduced hemoglobin, the appearance of jaundice and the presence of disease in relatives.
Congenital anemia is associated with:
- disturbances in the work of enzymes of red blood cells;
- defects in hemoglobin components (sickle-cell anemia);
- abnormalities in the structure of the erythrocyte membrane (microspherocytic hemolytic anemia).
Other hereditary anemia can occur even in the absence of disturbance of red blood cells, but they are destroyed under the influence of a serious disease.
Hemolytic anemia - symptoms
Signs of hemolytic anemia often resemble the manifestation of other anemia. But you should see the doctor if you find one of the following symptoms:
- headache, fatigue , weakness, heart palpitations;
- pallor, yellowish skin tone, eye, due to increased concentration due to destruction of red blood cells of bilirubin;
- enlargement of the spleen, since it is in this organ that the death of red blood cells occurs, pain in the left side under the rib is often observed;
- darkening of the urine due to the fact that it is filled with the products of the decomposition of hemoglobin.
Hemolytic anemia - diagnosis
First of all, the doctor must make a detailed anamnesis of the disease. He must find out if any one of his relatives has experienced hemolytic anemia, whether they are residents of the mountainous terrain. This factor is of great importance, since residents of Dagestan and Azerbaijanis have congenital anemia.
For the diagnosis, the specialist should know the age at which the first symptoms of anemia were observed.
In case of suspicion of acquired anemia, the doctor will try to determine the cause that led to the disease. To confirm the presence of hereditary anemia, it is necessary to pay attention to some physiological abnormalities (deformation of the teeth, disproportionate growth).
After making an anamnesis for determining hemolytic anemia, the doctor will prescribe a blood test. It draws attention to a decrease in the level of hemoglobin and an increase in the number of reticulocytes. When examining red blood cells under a microscope,
Hemolytic anemia - treatment
The fight against anemia depends on the nature of its manifestation and the intensity of the disease. Now use these methods:
- Assign the reception of glucosteroids, which interfere with the development of antibodies that destroy red blood cells.
- If hormone therapy does not work, then the spleen is removed.
- To combat anemia, plasmapheresis is used.