What is haemolytic anaemia? How can it be diagnosed?

In our blood, we have erythrocytes (red blood cells), platelets and leukocytes (white blood cells). All are made in the bone marrow.

White blood cells protect the body from infections by ‘fighting’ them off.

Platelets adhere together to stop bleeding by cover small cuts and in blood vessels.

Red blood cells are disc-shaped and carry oxygen around our bodies and removes carbon dioxide from our bodies.

Their normal lifespan is 120 days and then they die. The bone marrow in response produces more red blood cells for replacement.

Haemolytic anaemia is where red blood cells are destructed and removed from the blood before their normal lifespan and the bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells rapidly enough to replace them. Thus, Haemolytic anaemia is a form of anaemia where there are a low number of red blood cells than normal.

Anaemia is caused mainly by high rates of red blood cell destruction, lack of red blood cell production, loss of blood, lack of haemoglobin (iron-rich protein that carries oxygen around the body from the lungs)

Haemolytic anaemia can lead to irregular heartbeats known as arrhythmias, heart failure, fatigue, enlarged heart and pain.

Please find attached a diagnostic approach for haemolytic anaemia