Hemolytic crisis

Alternative names:

hemolysis - acute

Home care:

Consult your health care provider.

Call your health care provider if:

• your urine appears red, red-brown, or brownish ("tea colored") in color. (This is caused by the presence of hemoglobin in the urine.)
• you experience fatigue, pale skin, or other symptoms of anemia; especially if they appear to be worsening or if new symptoms begin to develop.
• you notice a decrease in the volume of urine produced.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Emergency interventions will be initiated if necessary. This may include hospitalization, administration of oxygen, blood transfusions, and other treatments.

When the condition is stable, the medical history will be obtained and a physical examination will be performed.

Medical history questions documenting hemolytic crisis in detail may include:

• time pattern
  • When did you first notice symptoms?

• quality
  • What symptoms did you notice?

• medical history
  • Do you have a known medical history of a hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficiency, or kidney disorder?
  • Have you ever experienced this before?
    • Was hospitalization required?
    • What was the treatment?
    • What was the outcome?

• other
  • What other symptoms are present?

The physical examination may occasionally show enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly).

Diagnostic tests may include:

• CBC
• blood chemistry studies to check the kidney function (BUN and creatinine level)
• kidney or abdominal ultrasound
• kidney or abdominal CT scan
• other tests depending on the suspected cause of the hemolytic crisis

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to a hemolytic crisis to your personal medical record.