Coordinated Health

Definition

Hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals and toxins is a lack of red blood cells that occurs when red blood cells are excessively damaged by certain chemicals or toxins.

Alternative Names

Anemia – hemolytic – caused by chemicals or toxins

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Possible substances that can cause hemolytic anemia include:

• Anti-malaria drugs (quinine compounds)
• Arsenic
• Dapsone
• Intravenous water infusion (not half-normal saline or normal saline)
• Metals (chromium/chromates, platinum salts, nickel compounds, copper, lead, cis-platinum)
• Nitrites
• Nitrofurantoin
• Penicillin
• Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
• Rho immune globulin (WinRho)
• Ribavirin
• Snake bites (some snake venom contains hemolytic toxins)
• Sulfonamides
• Sulfones

This list is not all-inclusive.