Hemolytic anemia or hemolytic anemia is a blood deficiency disease due to destruction red blood cells faster thanright its formation. This disease needs to be treated so that complications do not occur in the heart, such as heart rhythm disturbances or heart failure.
Hemolytic anemia can be experienced from birth because it is inherited from parents or develops after birth. Hemolytic anemia that is not inherited can be triggered by disease, exposure to chemicals, or the side effects of medications.
Some causes of hemolytic anemia can be cured by treating the cause. However, hemolytic anemia can also occur in a prolonged (chronic) manner, especially those caused by heredity.
Symptoms of Hemolytic Anemia
Symptoms of hemolytic anemia can be mild early in the disease, then worsen slowly or suddenly. Symptoms vary in each patient, including:
- Dizzy.
- Pale skin.
- The body gets tired quickly.
- Fever.
- Dark urine.
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
- Abdominal discomfort due to enlarged spleen and liver.
- Heart beat.
When have to go to the doctor
Consult a doctor if you experience the above symptoms, especially if there are complaints of yellowing of the skin and eyes or palpitations.
Hemolytic anemia can be caused by an autoimmune disease or as a side effect of medications. It is important to have regular check-ups with your doctor if you have an autoimmune disease or are taking certain medications for the long term. This is done so that disease progression and drug side effects can be monitored.
Causes of Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic anemia can be inherited from parents or develop after birth. Some of the causes of hemolytic anemia triggered by heredity are:
- Sickle cell anemia
- Spherocytosis
- Ovalocytosis
- Thalassemia
- Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency
While conditions outside of heredity that can cause hemolytic anemia include:
- Infectious diseases, such as typhoid, hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus infection, or bacterial infection coli certain type.
- Autoimmune diseases, such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
- Side effects of drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol, dapsone, levodopa, methyldopa, rifampicin, as well as some types of antibiotics, such as levofloxacin, penicillins, nitrofurantoin, and cephalosporins.
- Cancer, especially blood cancer.
- Venomous snake bite.
- Arsenic poisoning or lead poisoning.
- Receiving blood transfusions from people with different blood types.
- The body's reaction to organ transplant surgery.
- Vitamin E deficiency, especially in premature infants
Diagnosis of hemolytic anemia
The doctor will ask the patient's symptoms, his medical history, and whether there is a patient's family who suffers from anemia. After that, the doctor will check whether the patient's skin is pale or yellowed, and feel and press the patient's abdomen to check for enlargement of the liver or spleen.
If the patient is suspected of having hemolytic anemia, the doctor will perform the following tests:
- Complete blood count, to count the number of blood cells in the body.
- Examination of bilirubin, which is a residual compound from the process of destroying red blood cells, which causes jaundice.
- Coombs test, to see if antibodies attack red blood cells.
- Bone marrow aspiration, to see the shape and level of maturity of red blood cells directly from the 'blood factory'.
Treatment of Hemolytic Anemia
Treatment of hemolytic anemia depends on the cause, severity, age and health of the patient, and the patient's response to medications. Some of the methods of treatment that can be done by doctors include:
- Folic acid supplements and iron supplements.
- Immunosuppressant drugs, to suppress the immune system so that red blood cells are not easily destroyed
- Immunoglobulin injection (IVIG), to strengthen the patient's immune system.
- Blood transfusion, to increase the number of red blood cells (Hb) that is low in the patient's body.
In severe cases of hemolytic anemia, the doctor will perform a splenectomy or surgical removal of the spleen. This procedure is usually performed when the patient does not respond to the above treatment methods.
Complications of Hemolytic Anemia
Hemolytic anemia that is not treated properly can lead to dangerous complications, including:
- Heart rhythm disturbances
- Heart muscle disorders (cardiomyopathy)
- Heart failure
Prevention of Hemolytic Anemia
Prevention of hemolytic anemia depends on the cause. In patients with hemolytic anemia caused by side effects of drugs, prevention can be done by avoiding drugs that trigger this disease.
Hemolytic anemia can also be done by preventing infection, namely by:
- Avoid direct contact with people who are infected.
- Stay away from large crowds if possible.
- Wash hands and brush teeth regularly.
- Avoid consuming raw or undercooked food.
- Get a flu shot every year.
Hemolytic anemia caused by heredity cannot be prevented. But if you or your family suffer from hemolytic anemia due to heredity, you can undergo a genetic consultation to find out how likely the disease is passed on to your child.