Overview
Hemolytic anemia is a group of conditions in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. With fewer healthy red cells, the blood carries less oxygen, leading to anemia. It can be inherited or develop later in life, and ranges from mild to serious.
Symptoms
- Tiredness and weakness
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Dark-colored urine
- Dizziness
- A fast or pounding heartbeat
- Discomfort in the upper left abdomen from an enlarged spleen
Causes & risk factors
- Inherited conditions affecting red blood cells
- The immune system mistakenly attacking red cells
- Certain infections
- Some medicines as a side effect
- An enlarged or overactive spleen
- Reactions to incompatible blood
Treatment & self-care
A clinician confirms the diagnosis with blood tests and works to identify why red cells are breaking down, as the cause guides treatment. Management may involve treating the underlying trigger, supportive care, and monitoring, sometimes with a hematology specialist. A licensed clinician should direct evaluation and treatment.
See a doctor urgently if
- You feel increasingly tired, breathless, or dizzy
- You notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine
- You have a known cause and your symptoms suddenly worsen
- Seek emergency care for chest pain, fainting, a very fast heartbeat, or rapidly worsening paleness and weakness