Spherocytosis medical therapy: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
==Medical Therapy== | |||
; Treatment of Acute Symptoms | |||
Acute symptoms of [[anemia]] and hyperbilirubinemia can indicate treatment with '''[[blood transfusion]]s or exchanges'''. Transfusions treat [[anemia]] by adding healthy donor blood to the patient's own, providing needed [[red blood cells]]. As the transfused blood does not contain elliptocytes, it will not be hemolysed per se, but the overactive spleen may still break down a significant proportion of the transfused blood. Exchanges treat hyperbilirubinemia by replacing some portion of the patient's blood with healthy donor blood, thus removing some portion of the toxic [[bilirubin]]. | |||
; Treatment of Chronic Symptoms | |||
Iron supplementation supports the increased production of red blood cells, but in longstanding cases in which patients have taken supplemental [[iron]] or received numerous [[blood transfusion]]s, [[iron overload]] may be a significant problem, being a potential cause of [[cardiomyopathy]] and [[liver disease]]. If there is [[iron overload]], [[chelation therapy]] with agents such as desferrioxamine may be necessary. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist|2}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 16:36, 21 September 2012
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medical Therapy
- Treatment of Acute Symptoms
Acute symptoms of anemia and hyperbilirubinemia can indicate treatment with blood transfusions or exchanges. Transfusions treat anemia by adding healthy donor blood to the patient's own, providing needed red blood cells. As the transfused blood does not contain elliptocytes, it will not be hemolysed per se, but the overactive spleen may still break down a significant proportion of the transfused blood. Exchanges treat hyperbilirubinemia by replacing some portion of the patient's blood with healthy donor blood, thus removing some portion of the toxic bilirubin.
- Treatment of Chronic Symptoms
Iron supplementation supports the increased production of red blood cells, but in longstanding cases in which patients have taken supplemental iron or received numerous blood transfusions, iron overload may be a significant problem, being a potential cause of cardiomyopathy and liver disease. If there is iron overload, chelation therapy with agents such as desferrioxamine may be necessary.