Hemolytic Anemia Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Paul Schick, MD; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 8, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Other causes for fatigue, tachycardia, and dyspnea should be considered. Other causes for anemia should be ruled out. A transfusion requirement in the absence of blood loss or bone marrow aplasia would suggest hemolysis.

Go to Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, and Chronic Anemia for complete information on these topics.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Paul Schick, MD  Emeritus Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Research Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine; Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Lankenau Hospital

Paul Schick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Society of Hematology, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Ronald A Sacher, MB, BCh, MD, FRCPC  Professor, Internal Medicine and Pathology, Director, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Ronald A Sacher, MB, BCh, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Blood Banks, American Clinical and Climatological Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Hematology, College of American Pathologists, International Society of Blood Transfusion, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Talecris Honoraria Board membership

Chief Editor

Emmanuel C Besa, MD  Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Kimmel Cancer Center, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Polychromasia.
Spherocytes. One arrow points to a spherocyte; the other, to a normal RBC with central pallor.
Schistocytes (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura).
Peripheral blood smear with sickled cells at 1000X magnification. Image courtesy of Ulrich Woermann, MD.
Supra vital stain in hemoglobin H disease that reveals Heinz bodies (golf ball appearance).
 
 
 
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