Hemolytic anemia in adults: main causes and diagnostic procedures. Issue 2 (2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guillaud, Constance; Loustau, Valentine; Michel, Marc
• Is Part Of: Expert review of hematology. Volume 5:Issue 2(2012)
• Page Start: 229
• Page End: 241
• Publication Date: 2012
• Subjects: blood smear -- direct antiglobulin test -- extracorpuscular hemolytic anemia -- extravascular hemolysis -- hemolytic anemia -- intracorpuscular hemolytic anemia -- intravascular hemolysis; Hematology -- Periodicals; 616.15005
• DOI: 10.1586/ehm.12.3
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-4086

Abstract

Hemolytic anemia is not an exceptional situation in adults. Although establishing the hemolytic mechanism of an anemia is usually rather easy, finding the etiology may be quite difficult as both hereditary (corpuscular) and acquired causes of hemolytic anemia may occur during adulthood. The diagnosis of hemolytic anemia, therefore, requires a multistep procedure taking into account both the patient's and family history, a careful analysis of the blood smear and a direct antiglobulin test. Based on these first data, the diagnostic procedure may then require more specific tests whose indications are discussed in this review.