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hemolysis
Destruction, dissolution or lysis of erythrocytes such that hemoglobin is released into the medium in which the erythrocytes are suspended.
Laboratory:
evaluation of hemolysis (in vivo)*
1) peripheral smear
- polychromatophilia
2) reticulocyte count increased
3) bone marrow biopsy shows erythroid hyperplasia
4) serum chemistries
a) unconjugated bilirubin is increased
b) haptoglobin is decreased or absent
c) plasma hemoglobin
a) increased in intravascular hemolysis
b) increased or normal in extravascular hemolysis
d) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is variable
5) urine chemistries
a) urine bilirubin is absent
b) hemosiderin present with intravascular hemolysis
c) hemoglobin may be present with severe intravascular hemolysis
* hemolysis may also occur ex vivo
Related
erythrocyte; red blood cell (RBC)
erythrocytes.lytic resistant in blood
Specific
alpha-hemolysis
beta-hemolysis
gamma-hemolysis
hemolytic anemia
hemolytic transfusion reaction
jaundice (icterus)
General
sign/symptom
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed.
Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 569