Which condition involves premature destruction of red blood cells by the spleen leading to anemia?

Which condition involves premature destruction of red blood cells by the spleen leading to anemia?

• A. Aplastic anemia
• B. Hemolytic anemia
• C. Pernicious anemia
• D. Iron-deficiency anemia

Answer: (B)

Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed prematurely, often by the spleen’s macrophages, so destruction outpaces production and anemia results. The spleen normally filters out aged or abnormal RBCs, and in hemolysis this process is accelerated, leading to signs like fatigue and sometimes jaundice or an enlarged spleen. Lab clues include a high reticulocyte count as the marrow boosts production, elevated unconjugated bilirubin, increased LDH, and low haptoglobin. The other conditions don’t involve splenic destruction of RBCs. Aplastic anemia is due to bone marrow failure and reduced production of blood cells; pernicious anemia is a vitamin B12 deficiency causing impaired RBC formation; iron-deficiency anemia stems from a lack of iron needed to make hemoglobin.

Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed prematurely, often by the spleen’s macrophages, so destruction outpaces production and anemia results. The spleen normally filters out aged or abnormal RBCs, and in hemolysis this process is accelerated, leading to signs like fatigue and sometimes jaundice or an enlarged spleen. Lab clues include a high reticulocyte count as the marrow boosts production, elevated unconjugated bilirubin, increased LDH, and low haptoglobin.

The other conditions don’t involve splenic destruction of RBCs. Aplastic anemia is due to bone marrow failure and reduced production of blood cells; pernicious anemia is a vitamin B12 deficiency causing impaired RBC formation; iron-deficiency anemia stems from a lack of iron needed to make hemoglobin.