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Is anemia common? What causes the different types of anemia (specifically hemolytic anemia)?
Every third person in the world suffers from one of the following types of anemia (hemolytic anemia is among them):
- Microcytic (MCV <80 fL): Possible causes include iron deficiency, chronic diseases, and thalassemia.
- Normocytic (MCV 80 to 100 fL): occurs as a result of hemolysis, bone marrow suppression, or chronic kidney disease.
- Macrocytic (MCV > 100 fL): occurs due to vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, alcohol consumption, liver disease, HIV infection, hypothyroidism, and myelodysplastic syndrome.
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Hemolytic anemia is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can produce them.
Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed prematurely. We diagnose it by observing the reticulocyte count. When the count of these young red blood cells increases without being caused by a recent change in iron levels or bleeding, we can suspect hemolytic anemia.
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What are the prerequisites for the development of hemolytic anemia?
This type of anemia most often manifests due to autoimmune diseases such as cold agglutinin disease and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Some patients also suffer from congenital hemolytic anemias. Certain medications can also cause such anemia. There are also cases of hemolytic anemia resulting from hemolysis, parasites, infections, and snake bites.
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What are the possible complications?
We often observe problems such as jaundice, dark-colored urine, cardiopulmonary diseases, and fatigue.
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How do you determine the type of anemia?
We are doing a complete blood count, including:
- Hemoglobin
- Hematocrit
- Red blood cell count
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus indicators
- White blood cell count
- BCC Differential
- Platelet count
- Count reticulocytes.
When iron deficiency is present, plasma iron levels, iron-binding capacity (transferrin), transferrin saturation, and ferritin are examined. In hemolysis, we measure vitamin B12, folic acid, hemoglobin, and serum lactate dehydrogenase levels.
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What should patients with anemia (including patients with hemolytic anemia) eat?
Their diet should be balanced and rich in vegetables and legumes, from which they get enough vitamin B12 and folic acid. Meat intake is often increased to boost iron.
