Haemolytic Anaemia Types and Causes

Anaemia

Haemolytic Anaemia

• Definition: Anaemia caused by the premature destruction of red blood cells
• Types:
  • Intrinsic: defects in red blood cell production (e.g. sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia)
  • Extrinsic: destruction of normal red blood cells (e.g. autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, mechanical trauma)
• Causes:
  • Genetic defects (e.g. G6PD deficiency)
  • Infections (e.g. malaria, babesiosis)
  • Autoimmune disorders (e.g. lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Medications (e.g. penicillin, quinine)
• Symptoms:
  • Fatigue
  • Jaundice
  • Dark urine
  • Pale skin
• Diagnosis:
  • Blood tests (e.g. reticulocyte count, bilirubin level)
  • Bone marrow examination
  • Coombs test (for autoimmune haemolytic anaemia)

Vitamin Deficiency Anaemia

• Definition: Anaemia caused by a lack of essential vitamins necessary for red blood cell production
• Types:
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia)
  • Folate deficiency
• Causes:
  • Poor diet
  • Malabsorption (e.g. celiac disease, Crohn's disease)
  • Increased demand (e.g. pregnancy, cancer)
• Symptoms:
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale skin
  • Headaches
• Diagnosis:
  • Blood tests (e.g. vitamin B12 level, folate level)
  • Bone marrow examination
  • Schilling test (for vitamin B12 deficiency)

Iron Deficiency Anaemia

• Definition: Anaemia caused by a lack of iron necessary for haemoglobin production
• Causes:
  • Inadequate dietary iron intake
  • Increased iron demand (e.g. pregnancy, menstrual bleeding)
  • Chronic blood loss (e.g. ulcer, cancer)
  • Malabsorption (e.g. celiac disease, gastric bypass surgery)
• Symptoms:
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pale skin
  • Headaches
  • Cold hands and feet
• Diagnosis:
  • Blood tests (e.g. haemoglobin level, iron level, ferritin level)
  • Bone marrow examination

Anaemia

Haemolytic Anaemia

• Premature destruction of red blood cells causes anaemia
• Intrinsic defects: sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia
• Extrinsic destruction: autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, mechanical trauma
• Genetic defects: G6PD deficiency
• Infections: malaria, babesiosis
• Autoimmune disorders: lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
• Medications: penicillin, quinine
• Symptoms: fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, pale skin
• Diagnosis: reticulocyte count, bilirubin level, bone marrow examination, Coombs test

Vitamin Deficiency Anaemia

• Lack of essential vitamins necessary for red blood cell production causes anaemia
• Vitamin B12 deficiency: pernicious anaemia
• Folate deficiency
• Causes: poor diet, malabsorption, increased demand
• Symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, headaches
• Diagnosis: vitamin B12 level, folate level, bone marrow examination, Schilling test

Iron Deficiency Anaemia

• Lack of iron necessary for haemoglobin production causes anaemia
• Inadequate dietary iron intake
• Increased iron demand: pregnancy, menstrual bleeding
• Chronic blood loss: ulcer, cancer
• Malabsorption: celiac disease, gastric bypass surgery
• Symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, headaches, cold hands and feet
• Diagnosis: haemoglobin level, iron level, ferritin level, bone marrow examination

This quiz covers the definition, types, and causes of Haemolytic Anaemia, including intrinsic and extrinsic defects, genetic disorders, infections, autoimmune disorders, and medications.