Hemolysis: Medical Definition & Clinical Significance
Hemolysis (or haemolysis) is the destruction or rupture of red blood cells (RBCs), releasing hemoglobin into plasma.
Causes
- Mechanical (prosthetic valves, microangiopathy)
- Immune (autoimmune, transfusion reaction)
- Infection (malaria, Clostridium)
- Genetic (sickle cell, G6PD deficiency, spherocytosis)
- Toxins/drugs
Clinical Features
- Anemia (normocytic/macrocytic)
- Jaundice (unconjugated bilirubin)
- Dark urine (hemoglobinuria)
- Fatigue, dyspnea, tachycardia
- Elevated LDH, low haptoglobin
Lab Confirmation
Peripheral smear (schistocytes, spherocytes), reticulocytosis, elevated indirect bilirubin, low haptoglobin, high LDH, hemoglobinuria.
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