Hemolytic anemia diagnosis in the intensive care unit

Abstract

Hemolytic anemia is not an exceptional situation in adults. The abrupt onset of hemolysis and the severity of anemia may sometimes be life-threatening and require admission to the intensive care unit. Establishing the hemolytic mechanism of an anemia is rather easy, but finding its etiology can be quite difficult. The diagnosis of severe hemolytic anemia requires a rapid multiple-step procedure taking into account patient and family history, a careful analysis of the blood smear as well as the result of a direct antiglobulin test. While management is mainly supportive, some causes of hemolytic anemia may require “specific” and emergent therapy, based only on a rapid diagnosis procedure.