Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia

Definition

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia is a blood disorder that occurs when a medicine tells the body's defensive (immune) system to attack red blood cells. It causes red blood cells to break down earlier than normal.

See also: Hemolytic anemia

Alternative Names

Causes

Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia occurs when a drug causes your body's immune system to react against red blood cells. In some cases, a drug can cause the immune system to mistakenly think the red blood cells are dangerous, foreign substances. Antibodies form against the red blood cells. The antibodies attach to red blood cells and cause them to break down too early.

Drugs that can cause this type of hemolytic anemia include:

• Cephalosporins
• Levodopa
• Methyldopa
• Penicillin and its derivatives
• Quinidine
• Some anti-inflammatory drugs

There are many other rarer causes of drug-induced hemolytic anemia. Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is associated with G6PD deficiency. But in this case, the breakdown of red blood cells is due to a certain type of stress in the cell, not the body's immune system.

Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is rare in children.

References

Vandendries ER. Drug-associated disease: hematologic dysfunction. Crit Care Clin. April 2006; 22(2): 347-55, viii.

Dhaliwal G. Hemolytic anemia. Am Fam Physician. June 2004; 69(11): 2599-606.

Kasper D, Braunwald E, Fauci A, et al. Harrison's Principals of Internal Medicine. 16th edition [online version]. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2005.