Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia other imaging findings
Introduction
Overview
Overview
An echocardiogram can be done in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia to assess for high-output cardiac failure and to assess for iron overload.
Other Imaging Findings
Other Imaging Findings
An echocardiogram can be done in patients to assess for high-output cardiac failure and to assess for iron overload.
- High-output cardiac failure:
- Echocardiogram will show elevated ejection fraction (typically greater than 70%) in the case of high-output cardiac failure.
- The reason for high cardiac output in patients with hemolytic anemia is that the heart must pump a larger stroke volume and must pump more quickly in order to compensate for the oxygen deficit from decreased hemoglobin.[1]
- Iron overload:
- Patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia who have high transfusion requirements will frequently develop iron overload. An echocardiogram can show diastolic dysfunction if there is significant iron deposition in the heart. Diastolic dysfunction results in the impaired filling and can eventually lead to decreased cardiac output.
References
References
- ↑ Das SK, Patel VB, Basu R, Wang W, DesAulniers J, Kassiri Z; et al. (2017). “Females Are Protected From Iron-Overload Cardiomyopathy Independent of Iron Metabolism: Key Role of Oxidative Stress”. J Am Heart Assoc. 6 (1). doi:10.1161/JAHA.116.003456. PMC 5523622. PMID 28115312.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Shyam Patel [2]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Irfan Dotani