Equipping People To Make Sense Of What They Are Told
Hemolytic Anaemia -Anaemia due to hemolysis, the abnormal breakdown of red blood
cells (RBCs) either in the blood vessels (intravascular hemolysis) or elsewhere in
the body (extravascular)
The condition can be inherited or acquired.
Hemolytic anaemia occurs when the bone marrow is unable to increase production to
make up for the premature destruction of red blood cells. If the bone marrow is able
to keep up with the early destruction, anaemia does not occur (this is sometimes
called compensated hemolysis).
There are many types of hemolytic anaemia, which are classified by the reason for
the premature destruction of red blood cells.
The defect may be:
In the red blood cell itself (intrinsic factors).
Outside the red blood cell (extrinsic factors).
Intrinsic factors are often present at birth (hereditary). They include:
Abnormalities in the proteins that build normal red blood cells
Differences in the protein inside a red blood cell that carries oxygen (hemoglobin)
