reticulocytosis - present if there is increased red cell production
blood film:
polychromasia, macrocytosis: increased red cell production
spherocytosis: hereditary spherocytosis
elliptocytosis: hereditary elliptocytosis
sickle cells
bilirubin - increased in unconjugated bilirubin if there is increased red cell destruction (also increased urinary urobilinogen and reduced haptoglobin)
LDH: increased if red cell destruction
urine:
urobilinogen: high if increased RBC destruction
haemoglobinuria, haemosiderinuria: present in intravascular causes of RBC destruction
Other tests:
Coomb's test - tests for autoimmune cause of haemolytic anaemia
Donath-Landsteiner antibody - if paroxysmal cold haemoglobinuria
Reference
Hill QA, Stamps R, Massey E, et al. The diagnosis and management of primary autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Br J Haematol. 2017 Feb;176(3):395-411.
Jäger U, Barcellini W, Broome CM, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in adults: recommendations from the First International Consensus Meeting. Blood Rev. 2020 May;41:100648.
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