What is the Difference Between Hemolysis and Hemoconcentration

As we explore the intricate mechanisms within the human body, we come across red blood cells—essential components produced in the bone marrow and circulating through our veins. However, the health of these cells can be influenced by various medical conditions. Two such conditions are hemolysis and hemoconcentration. Despite sharing potential complications, these conditions originate from distinct causes and produce contrasting effects.

What is the difference between hemolysis and hemoconcentration? Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells, while hemoconcentration is the abnormally high concentration of blood.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hemolysis
3. What is Hemoconcentration
4. Similarities – Hemolysis and Hemoconcentration
5. Hemolysis vs. Hemoconcentration in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Hemolysis and Hemoconcentration
7. Summary – Hemolysis vs. Hemoconcentration

What is Hemolysis?

Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells or erythrocytes.  Normally, our body destroys old or damaged red blood cells and replaces them with new ones. Sometimes, red blood cells get destroyed too quickly or prematurely before the body has time to replace them. This leads to hemolysis. Moreover, the symptoms of hemolysis are fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, heart palpitation, shortness of breath, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye, and enlarged spleen. Hemolysis can be caused by defective red blood cells, immune system-related conditions, infections, medications (acetaminophen, cephalosporins, clopidogrel, dapsone, heparin, levodopa, levofloxacin, etc.), pregnancy-related complications, medical devices and treatments, and poisons and toxins.

Hemolysis can be diagnosed through medical history, blood, and urine tests. Furthermore, treatment options for hemolysis are supplements (folic acid), medications (corticosteroids and rituximab), surgery, blood transfusions, and hematopoietic stem cell transplants.

What is Hemoconcentration?

Hemoconcentration is the increase in the relative number of red blood cells in a unit volume of plasma due to a decrease in plasma volume or due to an increase in the production of erythrocytes. It can be caused by dehydration or polycythemia vera. The symptoms of hemoconcentration include decreased pulse pressure and volume, loss of skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, headaches, hepatomegaly, low central venous pressure, orthostatic hypotension, pruritus, splenomegaly, tachycardia, thirst, tinnitus, vertigo, and weakness.

Hemoconcetration can be diagnosed through physical evaluations and blood tests. Additionally, treatment for hemoconcentration involves administering intravenous fluids, discontinuing diuretics if they contribute to high hemoglobin levels, and managing polycythemia resulting from decreased oxygen levels by removing the causative substances, such as smoke or carbon monoxide.

What are the Similarities Between Hemolysis and Hemoconcentration?

1. Hemolysis and hemoconcentration are two medical terms that are associated with red blood cells.
2. Both these can cause complications in the human body.
3. They can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
4. They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.

Comparing the Difference Between Hemolysis and Hemoconcentration

Definition

• Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells.
• Hemoconcentration is the abnormally high concentration of blood.

Cause

• Hemolysis can be caused by defective red blood cells, immune system-related conditions, infections, medications (acetaminophen, cephalosporins, clopidogrel, dapsone, heparin, levodopa, levofloxacin, etc.), pregnancy-related complications, medical devices, and treatments and poisons and toxins.
• On the other hand, hemoconcentration can be caused by dehydration or polycythemia vera.

Symptoms

• Fatigue, dizziness, pale skin, heart palpitation, shortness of breath, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye, and enlarged spleen are the symptoms of hemolysis.
• Decreased pulse pressure and volume, loss of skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, headaches, hepatomegaly, low central venous pressure, orthostatic hypotension, pruritus, splenomegaly, tachycardia, thirst, tinnitus, vertigo, and weakness are the symptoms of hemoconcentration.

The following table summarizes the difference between hemolysis and hemoconcentration.

Summary – Hemolysis vs Hemoconcentration

Hemolysis and hemoconcentration are two medical terms that are associated with red blood cells. They are opposite to each other and are caused by different etiologies. Hemolysis is the destruction of red blood cells due to defective red blood cells, immune system-related conditions, infections, medications, pregnancy-related complications, medical devices and treatments, and poisons and toxins. Hemoconcentration is the abnormally high concentration of blood due to dehydration or polycythemia vera. Thus, this summarizes the difference between hemolysis and hemoconcentration.

FAQ: Hemolysis and Hemoconcentration

1. What are the three types of hemolysis?

The three types of hemolysis are:

1. Alpha hemolysis: Partial hemolysis characterized by a greenish discoloration surrounding bacterial colonies on blood agar plates.
2. Beta hemolysis: Complete hemolysis characterized by a clear zone surrounding bacterial colonies on blood agar plates.
3. Gamma hemolysis: No hemolysis can be observed around bacterial colonies on blood agar plates.

2. Does hemoconcentration mean dehydration?

Hemoconcentration can happen due to the decrease of plasma volume due to dehydration. Therefore, hemoconcentration does not necessarily mean dehydration.

3. What causes hemoconcentration of a specimen?

Hemoconcentration of a specimen can be caused by conditions such as dehydration, prolonged tourniquet application during blood collection, or excessive clotting within the blood vessel.

4. What causes blood hemolysis?

Blood hemolysis can be caused by factors such as rough handling of blood samples, improper storage or transportation conditions, exposure to extreme temperatures, or mechanical trauma during blood collection.

5. How does hemoconcentration affect hemoglobin?

Hemoconcentration typically leads to an increase in hemoglobin concentration in the blood due to a reduction in plasma volume. This occurs when there is an excessive loss of fluid from the bloodstream, such as during dehydration or prolonged tourniquet application during blood collection.

Reference:

1. “Hemolysis.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc.
2. “Hemoconcentration – An Overview.” ScienceDirect Topics.

Image Courtesy:

1. “HEMOLYSIS” By Vioximiko – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “1901 Composition of Blood” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia