Mechanical hemolytic anemia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Mechanical hemolytic anemia
Synonyms	N/A
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Fatigue, pallor, jaundice, dark urine, shortness of breath
Complications	Heart failure, kidney failure
Onset	Any age
Duration	Variable
Types	N/A
Causes	Mechanical trauma to red blood cells
Risks	Prosthetic heart valves, microangiopathic processes
Diagnosis	Blood smear, Coombs test, lactate dehydrogenase levels, haptoglobin levels
Differential diagnosis	Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, G6PD deficiency
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Address underlying cause, blood transfusion, folic acid supplementation
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Depends on underlying cause
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Mechanical hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia characterized by the destruction of red blood cells due to physical forces. This condition can be caused by a variety of factors, including mechanical heart valves, vascular abnormalities, and certain medical procedures.

Causes

Mechanical hemolytic anemia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Mechanical heart valves: These devices can cause damage to red blood cells as they pass through the valve, leading to hemolysis.
• Vascular abnormalities: Conditions such as aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis can cause increased turbulence in the blood flow, leading to damage to red blood cells.
• Medical procedures: Certain procedures, such as cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, can cause mechanical damage to red blood cells.

Symptoms

The symptoms of mechanical hemolytic anemia can vary depending on the severity of the condition, but may include:

• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate
• Jaundice

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of mechanical hemolytic anemia typically involves a combination of blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), reticulocyte count, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level. In some cases, a blood smear may also be performed to examine the shape and size of the red blood cells.

Treatment

Treatment for mechanical hemolytic anemia typically involves addressing the underlying cause of the condition. This may involve surgery to repair or replace a faulty heart valve, treatment of vascular abnormalities, or changes to medical procedures to reduce damage to red blood cells.

See Also

• Anemia
• Hemolysis
• Red blood cell