Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia
Immune hemolytic anemia secondary to drugs; Anemia - immune hemolytic - secondary to drugsDrug-induced immune hemolytic anemia is a blood disorder that occurs when a medicine triggers the body's defense (immune) system to attack its own red blood cells. This causes red blood cells to break down earlier than normal, a process called hemolysis.
Hemolytic anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Normally, red ...

Causes
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.
Normally, red blood cells last for about 120 days in the body. In people with hemolytic anemia, red blood cells in the blood are destroyed earlier than normal.
In some cases, a drug can cause the immune system to mistake your own red blood cells for foreign substances. The body responds by making antibodies to attack the body's own red blood cells. The antibodies attach to red blood cells and cause them to break down too early.
Drugs that can cause this type of hemolytic anemia include:
- Cephalosporins (a class of antibiotics), most common cause
- Dapsone
- Levodopa
- Levofloxacin
- Methyldopa
- Nitrofurantoin
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Penicillin and its derivatives
- Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
- Quinidine
Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is rare in children.
Symptoms
Symptoms may include any of the following:
- Dark urine
Dark urine
Blood in your urine is called hematuria. The amount may be very small and only detected with urine tests or under a microscope. In other cases, the...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Fatigue
- Pale skin color
- Rapid heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellow color of the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes. The yellow coloring comes from bilirubin, a byproduct of old red blood cells. Jau...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article
Exams and Tests
A physical exam may show an enlarged spleen. You may have blood and urine tests to help diagnose this condition.
Tests may include:
- Absolute reticulocyte count to determine if red blood cells are being created in the bone marrow at an appropriate rate
Reticulocyte count
Reticulocytes are slightly immature red blood cells. A reticulocyte count is a blood test that measures the amount of these cells in the blood....
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Direct or indirect Coombs test to check if there are antibodies against red blood cells that are causing red blood cells to die too early
Direct or indirect Coombs test
The Coombs test looks for antibodies that may stick to your red blood cells and cause red blood cells to die too early.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Indirect bilirubin levels to check for jaundice
Indirect bilirubin
The bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Red blood cell count
Red blood cell count
An RBC count is a blood test that measures how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have. RBCs contain hemoglobin, a protein which carries oxygen. How mu...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Serum haptoglobin to check if red blood cells are being destroyed too early
Serum haptoglobin
The haptoglobin blood test measures the level of haptoglobin in your blood. Haptoglobin is a protein produced by the liver. It attaches to hemoglobi...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Lactate dehydrogenase level, which increases with red cell destruction
Lactate dehydrogenase
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a protein that helps produce energy in the body. An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in the blood.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Urine hemoglobin to check for hemolysis
Urine hemoglobin
Hemoglobinuria test is a urine test that checks for hemoglobin in the urine.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article
Treatment
Stopping the drug that is causing the problem may relieve or control the symptoms.
You may need to take a medicine called prednisone to suppress the immune response against the red blood cells. Special blood transfusions may be needed to treat severe symptoms.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome is good for most people if they stop taking the drug that is causing the problem.
Possible Complications
Death caused by severe anemia is rare.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
See your health care provider if you have symptoms of this condition.
Prevention
Avoid the drug that caused this condition.
References
Brandow AM. Hemolytic anemias resulting from extracellular factors -- immune hemolytic anemias. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 491.
Michel M. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 151.
Antibodies - illustration
Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.
Antibodies
illustration
Antibodies - illustration
Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens.
Antibodies
illustration
- Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus - InDepth(In-Depth)
- Cirrhosis - InDepth(In-Depth)
Review Date: 2/2/2023
Reviewed By: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Monsey, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.