How Is Hemolytic  Anemia Treated?

Treatments for hemolytic anemia include blood transfusions, medicines, plasmapheresis, surgery, blood and marrow stem cell transplants, and lifestyle changes. 

People who have mild hemolytic anemia may not need treatment, as long as the condition doesn't worsen. People who have severe hemolytic anemia usually need ongoing treatment. Severe hemolytic anemia can be fatal if it's not properly treated. 

Goals of Treatment 

The goals of treating hemolytic anemia include: 

• Reducing or stopping  the destruction  of red blood cells 
• Increasing  the red blood cell count to an acceptable  level
• Treating  the underlying cause of the condition 

Treatment  will depend on the type, cause, and severity of the hemolytic anemia you have. Your doctor also will consider your age, overall health, and medical history. 

If you have an inherited form  of hemolytic anemia, it's a lifelong condition that may require ongoing treatment. If you have an acquired form  of hemolytic anemia, it may go away once its cause  can be found  and corrected. 

Blood Transfusions 

Blood transfusions are used to treat severe or life-threatening hemolytic anemia. 

A blood transfusion is a common procedure  in which  blood is given to you through an intravenous (IV) line  in one  of your blood vessels. Transfusions require careful matching of donated blood  with the recipient's blood. 

Medicines 

Medicines can improve some types of hemolytic anemia, especially autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Corticosteroid medicines,  such as prednisone, are used to limit or prevent your immune system from making antibodies against red blood cells. 

If you don't respond to corticosteroids, your doctor may prescribe other medicines to suppress your immune system.
If  you have severe sickle cell anemia, your doctor may recommend a medicine called hydroxyurea.  This medicine reduces  the number  of red blood cells with abnormal hemoglobin that your body makes. It also promotes  the production  of red blood cells  with normal hemoglobin. 

Plasmapheresis

Plasmapheresis is a procedure  that removes antibodies from the blood. For this procedure, blood  is taken from your  body using a needle inserted into a vein. 

The plasma, which contains the antibodies,  is separated from  the rest  of the blood. Then, plasma from  a donor  and the rest  of the blood is put back in your body. 

This  treatment may help if other treatments  for immune hemolytic anemia don't work. 

Surgery

Some people who have hemolytic  anemia may need surgery to remove their spleens. The spleen is an organ in the abdomen. A healthy spleen helps fight infection  and filters out old  or damaged blood  cells.

An enlarged or diseased spleen may remove more red  blood cells than normal, causing anemia. Removing  the spleen can stop  or reduce high rates of red  blood cell destruction. 

Blood and  Marrow Stem Cell Transplant

In some types of hemolytic  anemia, such as thalassemias,  the bone marrow doesn't make enough healthy red blood cells. The red blood cells it does make may be destroyed before their normal lifespan  is over. Blood and marrow stem cell transplants may be used to treat these types of hemolytic anemia. 

A blood and  marrow stem cell transplant replaces damaged stem cells with healthy ones  from another person (a donor). 

During  the transplant, which is like  a blood transfusion, you get donated stem  cells through a tube placed in  a vein. Once the stem  cells are in your body, they travel to your  bone marrow and begin making new  blood cells.

Lifestyle Changes 

If you have AIHA with cold-reactive antibodies, try  to avoid cold temperatures. This can help prevent  the breakdown of red blood cells. It's very important  to protect your fingers, toes, and ears from the cold. 

To protect yourself, you can: 

• Wear gloves  or mittens when taking food out  of the refrigerator  or freezer. 
• Wear a hat, scarf, and a coat with snug cuffs during cold weather. 
• Turn down air conditioning or dress warmly while in an air-conditioned space. 
• Warm up the car before driving in cold weather. 

People born with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency can avoid substances that may trigger  anemia. For example, avoid fava beans, naphthalene (a substance found in some moth balls), and certain medicines (as your doctor advises).