Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (patient information)

Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Mydah Sajid, MD[1]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia is a type of intra-vascular hemolysis that occurs due to a number of diseases. It is a clinical emergency and requires immediate treatment.

What are the symptoms of Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia?[edit | edit source]

It presents with wide range of clinical symptoms:

• Anemia
• Jaundice
• Petechia
• Purpura
• Mucosal bleeding
• Oliguria
• Neurological involvement

What causes Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia?[edit | edit source]

It is a clinical manifestation of a large number of underlying diseases including:

• Aortic stenosis
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation
• Cancer
• Mechanical heart valve

When to seek urgent medical care?[edit | edit source]

It is a medical emergency. Any patients presenting with high clinical suspicion should be given immediate treatment.

Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

The diagnosis of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia is made by carrying out blood tests and visualizing schistocytes on peripheral blood smear. The blood tests show:

• Anemia
• Elevated lactate dehydrogenase
• Raised bilirubin
• Thrombocytopenia
• Deranged liver and renal function tests

Treatment[edit | edit source]

The treatment of choice is Plasma exchange. Other treatment option include

• Large volume plasma infusion
• Infusion of fresh frozen plasma
• Folate supplementation
• Anti-platelet therapy
• Corticosteroids

Possible complications[edit | edit source]

Acute renal failure, intracranial hemorrhage and myocardial infarction are the possible complications.

References[edit | edit source]

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