Lecture 10 - Hemolytic Anemias - Extracorpuscular Defects
Lecture 10 - Hemolytic Anemias - Extracorpuscular Defects
Lecture 10 - Hemolytic Anemias - Extracorpuscular Defects
EXTRACORPUSCULAR
DEFECTS
What is destroying this RBC?
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Immune hemolytic anemias
These anemias result from a shortened RBC
survival mediated by the immune response,
specifically humoral antibodies.
There are three broad categories:
Alloimmune in which the patient produces
alloantibodies to foreign RBC antigens introduced
through transfusion or pregnancy
Transfusion reaction
An immediate transfusion reaction is characterized by
acute intravascular hemolysis, mostly associated with
ABO IgM isoantibodies. The patient’s antibodies
destroy the donor’s cells.
RESULTS OF INTRAVASCULAR
HEMOLYSIS
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
A delayed transfusion reaction occurs 214 days after
transfusion and usually is the result of an anamnestic
response in which IgG antibodies are made in an individual
who has been previously sensitized. Extravascular hemolysis
of IgG coated antibodies occurs in the spleen.
Hemolytic disease of the newborn
RBCs of the fetus are destroyed by maternal IgG antibodies
that cross the placenta.
The baby is often born jaundiced, anemic and with
hepatosplenomegaly.
EXTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia – This represents an
abnormality in which the immune system’s ability for
selfrecognition is lost and antibodies are made to the
RBC antigens (autoantibodies). They bind to the
RBCs and initiate hemolysis.
Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia In this type of
immune hemolytic anemia the serologic reactivity of the
IgG antibody involved is optimal at 370 C.
Primary, idiopathic severe, but selflimiting anemias
that may last several weeks to years.
Secondary – associated with some underlying disease
(lymphoproliferative, neoplastic, SLE, RA, viral or
bacterial infection, chronic inflammatory disease)
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
In both the primary and secondary form of the disease, most
hemolysis is extravascular and complement is not necessary
for cell destruction, though it may be involved (AgAb
complexes may be pitted from the cell membrane in the
spleen or the cell itself may be ingested by phagocytic cells).
The anemia is moderate to severe, the RBCs are
normochromic, normocytic with polychromasia (increased
reticulocytes).
Spherocytes, schistocytes, etc. may be seen and are indicative
of the hemolytic process.
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
The direct Coombs test is positive. This tests for RBCs
sensitized with IgG Ab or complement. IgM antibodies
will agglutinate RBCs in saline, but IgG antibodies are
not large enough to overcome the zeta potential of the
RBCs. In the direct Coombs test, antihuman globulin
(AHG), which contains antibodies to human antibodies
and complement, is added to cells suspected of having
IgG or complement bound to them. When AHG binds
to the IgG or complement that is bound to RBCs, it
bridges the distance between the RBCs which leads to
agglutination and a positive test.
Treatment is glucocorticoids, splenectomy, or other
immunosuppressive drugs.
ZETA POTENTIAL
WARM AUTOIMMUNE
HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia – pathologic cold
autoantibodies are usually IgM antibodies that fix
complement and are optimally reactive below 370 C. It is
normal to have benign cold autoantibodies, but their
thermal amplitude and concentration are not high
enough to cause problems. The pathologic forms can be
divided into three types:
Cold agglutinin syndrome – This is idiopathic, chronic,
usually in individuals older than 50, and usually due
to an IgM monoclonal antibody.
Secondary, cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia – due
to polyclonal IgM antibodies that develop with
Mycoplasma pneumonia infections, infectious
mononucleosis, or lymphoproliferative disease. Is
usually transient.
COLD AGGLUTININ
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
In both a and b the extent of the disease is related to
the thermal amplitude of the antibody – if it reacts at
30320 C, it can cause problems when the peripheral
circulation cools to that temperature:
IgM binds and fixes complement, upon warming the
antibody dissociates, but complement remains bound
leading to either intravascular or extravascular
hemolysis.
The patient may experience acrocyanosis of hands,
feet, ears, and nose (with agglutination blood flow
slows down, the skin turns white and then blue; upon
warming, the skin turns red).
Blood counts are difficult to perform unless the blood
is warmed.
The Coombs test with anticomplement antibody is
positive.
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
The cold agglutinin test is positive at 0200 C and
usually up to 300 C. The titer is usually 1:1000 or
greater.
Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (the third type of cold
autoimmune hemolytic anemia) – is found in
association with viral disorders and syphilis and may
be chronic.
This is characterized by massive, intermittent, acute
intravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuria upon
exposure to cold.
It is caused by a biphasic IgG antibody that binds at
low temperature and fixes complement.
Upon warming, to body temperature, the intravascular
hemolysis occurs and is accompanied by fever, shaking
chills, and abdominal and back cramps.
COLD AUTOIMMUNNE
HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Drug induced immune hemolytic anemia –
many different drugs can cause this and
34 different mechanisms may be
involved.
Immune complex mechanism
The drug binds to plasma proteins and antibodies are
made against the drug.
The antibodies bind to the drug to form an immune
complex which adsorbs nonspecifically to the patients
RBCs, complement is fixed, and acute intravascular
hemolysis occurs.
IMMUNE COMPLEX MECHANISM
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Drug adsorption (hapten) mechanism
The drug binds nonspecifically to proteins on the RBC
membrane, antibodies are made (usually IgG), they
bind to the drug and extravascular hemolysis occurs.
Membrane modification mechanism
The drug modifies the RBC membrane so that normal
plasma proteins bind nonimmunologically.
In rare instances a cross reacting antibody causes a
hemolytic anemia.
Methyldopa induced mechanism
The drug induces formation of autoantibodies causing
extravascular destruction.
It may change autoproteins so that they are no longer
recognized as self, or it may cause a direct loss of T
suppressor cells.
DRUG ADSORPTION
MEMBRANE MODIFICATION
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Nonimmune hemolytic anemias
Caused by antagonists in blood or
abnormalities in plasma lipids.
Chemicals and drugs
Include drugs that cause oxidative injury
Inhalation of arsine gas
Lead intoxication (in addition to interfering with heme
synthesis, lead can cause membrane damage by
interfering with energy production)
Injection of large volumes of water.
Animal venoms – bees, wasps, spiders, scorpions in
susceptible individuals, rarely snakebites
Infectious agents – malarial parasites, Babeiosis,
Clostridium perfringens, Bartonella bacilliformis
BABEIOSIS AND MALARIA
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Abnormal plasma lipid composition – note that these
were also included in intracorpuscular problems, because
they lead to intrinsic problems with the RBC.
Spur cell anemia – associated with severe hepatocellular
disease which leads to increased serum lipoproteins,
increased membrane cholesterol, decreased deformability
and decreased survival
Abetalippoproteinemia – leads to an increased
cholesterol/phospholipid ratio, acanthocytes, and decreased
RBC survival.
Caused by physical injury to RBCs
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Caused by microcirculatory lesions that cause the RBCs to
tear due to sheer stress
Disseminated cancer
SPUR CELL ANEMIA
EXTRACORPUSCULAR DEFECTS
Hemolytic uremic syndrome
Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura –
microthrombi are deposited in the microvasculature
Malignant hypertension
Disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Macroangiopathic hemolytic anemia
Due to abnormalities in the heart or large vessels
causing RBC hemolysis
Prosthetic heart valves
March hemoglobinemia
Transient hemolytic anemia occurring after strenuous
exercise with contact with a hard surface (running,
marching)
Thermal injury
MICROANGIOPTHIC HEMOLYTIC
ANEMIA
THERMAL INJURY
THERMAL INJURY