Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia where there is increased destruction of red blood cells and the body is unable to replace red blood cells fast enough. The destroyed red blood cells get temporarily trapped in the spleen and lymph system and then are flushed from the body. The destruction of red blood cells can occur because of several inherited or acquired reasons.
Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in the red blood cells that helps the red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Anemia is a blood disorder where there aren't enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in these red blood cells.
Aplastic anemia occurs when the bone marrow in the center of the bone does not make enough healthy blood cells for the body to function normally. Patients may have low blood counts involving all three types of blood cells — red cells, white cells, and platelets. When the bone marrow of these patients is examined under the microscope, it is usually found to have reduced numbers of the 'stem cells' that are the precursors of all blood cells.
Children's Minnesota's Hemoglobinopathy and Sickle Cell Program is a nationally recognized program that treats the majority of children and teens in Minnesota with abnormal hemoglobins and anemias. We treat the following types of anemias and hemoglobinopathies: