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Hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals and toxins

Definition

Hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals and toxins is a lack of red blood cells that occurs when red blood cells are excessively damaged by certain chemicals or toxins.

Alternative Names

Anemia - hemolytic - caused by chemicals or toxins

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Possible substances that can cause hemolytic anemia include:

Anti-malaria drugs (quinine compounds)
Arsenic
Dapsone
Intravenous water infusion (not half-normal saline or normal saline)
Metals (chromium/chromates, platinum salts, nickel compounds, copper, lead, cis-platinum)
Nitrites
Nitrofurantoin
Penicillin
Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
Rho immune globulin (WinRho)
Ribavirin
Snake bites (some snake venom contains hemolytic toxins)
Sulfonamides
Sulfones

This list is not all-inclusive.

References

Schwartz RS. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 163.

Schrier SL, Price EA. Extrinsic nonimmune hemolytic anemias. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SS, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 48.

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