Hemolytic Anemia

hemolytic anemiaHemolysis is the premature destruction of red blood cells (RBC’s) that can lead to hemolytic anemia when the bone marrow cannot compensate for the loss of red blood cells. Normally, RBC’s live between 90 and 120 days so about 1% of RBC’s die each day. During hemolysis, their life span is much shorter.


Hemolytic Anemia can be caused by a number of things. Some acquired and others inherited. For those with G6PD Deficiency, oxidative stress can cause the premature distruction of RBC’s due to the lack of an enzyme called reduced glutathione which G6PD helps produce. We maintain a list of drugs, food and other substances, or contraindicated substances, that can cause hemolytic anemia.

People with Class 1 G6PD Deficiency, a rare form of the disorder, also have Chronic Non-Spherocytic Hemolytic Anemia (CNSHA) which means the body is always in some state of hemolysis. There are over 80 variants of G6PD Deficiency with CNSHA associated with them.

Degrees of Hemolysis

Hemolysis can be quite subtle or it can be extreme. In rare cases hemolysis can be life threatening. If enough RBC’s die the body will have no means of getting oxygen to the body, resulting in death without immediate medical attention. The usual treatment for this is transfusion of whole blood, but this also has severe health risks that can be fatal. It is always best to avoid the triggers of hemolytic anemia.


Chronic fatigue, pale skin color, yellow skin and/or eyes, back pain, shortness of breath and dark urine can all be signs of hemoysis. For a complete list of symptoms, go here. Low level hemolysis over time can lead to many other health issues and can make other health problems worse.

Avoiding Hemolytic Anemia

This is always a difficult concept for people to grasp. If you eat something and see no immediate negative effects, it’s easy to think that it’s okay to eat that food. Unfortunately, ALL foods which cause oxidative stress cause RBC’s to die.

Treatment and Prevention

Since G6PD Deficiency is a genetic disorder, there is no cure and the best treatment for hemolytic anemia caused by G6PD Deficiency is avoiding certain drugs and foods.


Hemolytic Anemia was last modified: September 24th, 2016 by Dale Baker