Hemolysis (alternative spelling Haemolysis) is the excessive breakdown of red blood cells. When this happens in an animal, it causes a form of anemia.
Hemolysis is also an important factor in medical tests, as a blood sample may become hemolysed with prolonged storage, or during venipuncture. This may cause interference with the test results for a patient.
Table of contents |
2 Detection of hemolysis 3 Causes of hemolysis |
Normally, a red blood cell survives 90 to 120 days in circulation: about 1% of human red blood cells break down each day, which matches the production rate.
When the rate of breakdown increases, the body compensates by producing more red blood cells. If compensation is adequate there are few clinical problems.
If breakdown occurs at such a rate that it exceeds the body's ability to keep up, and then anemia develops.
Hemolysis can be distinguished from other forms of anemia in several ways:
Hemolytic anaemia
Detection of hemolysis
Causes of hemolysis
Ineffective hematopoiesis is sometimes misdiagnosed as hemolysis.