Makindo Medical Notes"One small step for man, one large step for Makindo" |
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Related Subjects: |Microangiopathic Haemolytic anaemia |Haemolytic anaemia |Immune(Idiopathic) Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) |Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) |Haemolytic Uraemic syndrome (HUS) |Thrombocytopenia |Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
Feature | Intravascular Haemolysis | Extravascular Haemolysis |
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Location | Occurs within blood vessels | Occurs primarily in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow |
Mechanism | Direct destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) within the circulation | Phagocytosis of RBCs by macrophages in the spleen and liver |
Haemoglobin Release | Free haemoglobin is released into the bloodstream | Haemoglobin is degraded within macrophages |
Laboratory Findings |
- Haemoglobinaemia
- Haemoglobinuria - Increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) - Decreased haptoglobin |
- Elevated unconjugated bilirubin
- Increased reticulocyte count - Normal haptoglobin |
Clinical Features |
- Jaundice
- Dark urine (due to haemoglobinuria) - Acute kidney injury in severe cases |
- Splenomegaly
- Mild jaundice - Often no haemoglobinuria |
Common Causes |
- Haemolytic transfusion reactions
- Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) - Mechanical damage (e.g., prosthetic heart valves) |
- Autoimmune haemolytic anemia (AIHA)
- Hereditary spherocytosis - Sickle cell anaemia |