The key difference between hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia is that hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are made in the body, while iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia which is due to insufficient iron in the body.
Anemia is a medical condition in which people lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen into their body tissues. There are many different types of anemia caused due to various reasons. Anemia condition can be temporary or long-term. It can also create symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia are two different types of anemia.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hemolytic Anemia
3. What is Iron Deficiency Anemia
4. Similarities – Hemolytic Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia
5. Hemolytic Anemia vs Iron Deficiency Anemia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hemolytic Anemia vs Iron Deficiency Anemia
What is Hemolytic Anemia?
Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are made in the body. The destruction of red blood cells is called hemolysis. Normally, red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the human body. When people have anemia, blood fails to supply enough oxygen to all tissues and organs. There are two main types of hemolytic anemia: inherited and acquired hemolytic anemia. In inherited type, parents pass the genes that are responsible for this condition on to their children (sickle cell anemia and thalassemia). Sickle cell anemia and thalassemia conditions produce red blood cells that don’t live as long as normal red blood cells. In acquired type, red blood cells that are made by the body are destroyed very fast due to various reasons such as infections, medicines, blood cancers, autoimmune diseases, overactive spleen, mechanical heart valve, and severe reaction to blood transfusion.
Figure 01: Hemolytic Anemia
The symptoms of hemolytic anemia include abnormal paleness, yellowish skin, eyes and mouth, dark-colored urine, fever, weakness, dizziness, confusion, inability to handle physical activities, enlarged spleen and liver, tachycardia, and heart murmur. Moreover, this condition can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, complete blood count (CBC), other blood tests, urine tests, bone marrow aspiration, or biopsy. Furthermore, this condition can be treated through blood transfusions, corticosteroids medicines, treatment to strengthen the immune system, rituximab, surgery to remove the spleen, and immune suppressive therapy.
What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia that is due to insufficient iron in the body. Without the required amount of iron, the body can’t produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enable them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). The symptoms of this condition may include extreme fatigue, weakness, pale skin, chest pain, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, headache, lightheadedness, dizziness, cold hands and feet, inflammation of the tongue, brittle nails, unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances such as ice, dirt or starch, and poor appetite.
Figure 02: Iron Deficiency Anemia
Moreover, iron deficiency anemia can be diagnosed through red blood cell size and colour, hematocrit, haemoglobin test, ferritin test, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and ultrasound. Furthermore, iron deficiency anemia can be treated by taking iron supplements (iron and vitamin C) and treating underlying conditions such as medication to control oral contraceptives, antibiotics to treat peptic ulcers, surgery to remove bleeding polyps, etc.
What are the Similarities Between Hemolytic Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia are two different types of anemia.
- People who suffer from both conditions do not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen into their body tissues.
- People who suffer from both conditions may have similar symptoms such as weakness and fatigue.
- Both conditions can lead to complications if not treated.
- They are treatable conditions.
What is the Difference Between Hemolytic Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia that is due to the destruction of red blood cells faster than their synthesis, while iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia that is due to insufficient iron in the body. Thus, this is the key difference between hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia. Furthermore, the complications involved in hemolytic anemia include irregular heart rhythms, cardiomyopathy, or heart failure, while the complications involved in iron deficiency anemia include heart problems, problems during pregnancy, and growth problems.
The below infographic presents the differences between hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Hemolytic Anemia vs Iron Deficiency Anemia
In anemia, people lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen into their body tissues. Hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia are two different types of anemia. Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia that happens due to the destruction of red blood cells faster than their synthesis in the body, while iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia that is due to insufficient irons in the body. So, this is the key difference between hemolytic anemia and iron deficiency anemia.
Reference:
1. Kahn, April. “What Is Hemolytic Anemia and How Do You Treat It?” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. “Iron Deficiency Anemia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia” By Ed Uthman (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Iron-deficiency Anemia, Peripheral Blood Smear (4422704616)” By Ed Uthman from Houston, TX, USA – Iron-deficiency Anemia, Peripheral Blood SmearUploaded by CFCF (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
If either type of anemia is the diagnosis, what is the long term prognosis? I’m thinking of a 60 year old man.