Treatment Options for Anaemia

Introduction:

Anaemia is a condition that occurs when the quality or quantity of red blood cells in the body diminishes significantly. This hinders the natural supply of oxygen to the cells of the body, and this makes the person feel weak, tired and unable to breathe properly. In this article, we will explore what are the possible treatment options for anaemia with a focus on iron deficiency anaemia. 

Anaemia Diagnosis

The first step of anaemia diagnosis starts with setting up a consultation with a specialist, preferably a haematologist. They will ask you about your medical history, conduct a physical examination and prescribe a few blood tests and imaging tests or biopsy if required. The doctor will evaluate your symptoms and try to link your anaemia condition with three major causes – reduced or faulty production of red blood cells, blood loss and destruction of red blood cells.

The blood tests that your doctors recommend help to confirm the condition and point out the underlying reasons:

Here are some common tests you may expect to undergo:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This determines the size, number of haemoglobin content and volume
• Iron Profile, including tests like Blood iron and serum ferritin levels: Indicates the body’s total iron stores
• Vitamin B12 and folate levels: Essential for the healthy production of red blood cells
• Bilirubin, reticulocyte count and urine tests: Determines how fast the blood cells are being produced. It can also help to detect if the patient has a condition called hemolytic anaemia, where the red blood cells have a short lifespan. 

Other tests to rule out a viral infection, autoimmune conditions, hemolytic anaemia, endocrine issues, kidney disorders, etc., can also be advised.

What are the Possible Treatment Options for Anaemia?

The healthcare provider can only prescribe a treatment path for you after decoding the type and cause of the anaemia condition. There are different types of anaemia, of which the most common is iron deficiency anaemia. 

Treatment for Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Without iron, the body is not able to create haemoglobin and normal red blood cells. 

• For iron deficiency anaemia, the standard form of treatment is prescribing iron supplements containing ferrous iron. 
• The doctor may also ask you to increase the level of iron in your meals. Some good sources of iron are beans, red meat, whole-grain products, egg yolk, nuts and seafood. Iron-fortified dairy products and foods are also widely available on the market.
• The doctor will monitor the red blood cell count closely, which includes factors like haemoglobin, ferritin levels and haematocrit during the course of the treatment. 
• The doctor may advise other forms of treatment if the iron supplementation fails to improve the anaemia condition. In some cases, it can be through iron injected into the body intravenously or by prescribing iron injection support. Iron transfusions must be given in a hospital setup under the observation of expert doctors only. 

Other Treatments

Other Treatment Procedures for Anaemia that do not respond to the above-listed treatments:

1. Blood transfusion

This is a safe medical procedure in which healthy blood is administered to the patient through intravenous insertion into the blood vessels. This procedure replaces blood lost through injury or surgery or when the body is not making it to adequate levels. 

• To initiate a blood transfusion, the doctor has to test the blood sample to make sure that the blood you are being given is the right match. 
• Blood transfusion can take about one to four hours to complete, and it is a thoroughly monitored procedure. 

2. Blood and bone marrow transplant

A blood or bone marrow transplant is also known as a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, in which defective blood-forming stem cells are replaced with healthy ones. This procedure requires you to 

• Stay in the hospital for a few days, wherein specific medication and radiation are used to destroy the abnormal stem cells and weaken the immune system. This ensures that the donor cells are not rejected after a transplant.
• The stem cells are provided through the intravenous catheter, which travels via the bloodstream to the bone marrow, where it makes new healthy blood cells.
•  When the healthy stem cells come from a donor, it is called an allogeneic transplant, and when it comes from the patient, it is called an autologous transplant.

3. Dietary Supplement Support

If you have moderate to mild anaemia, the doctor can prescribe the following supplements:

• Vitamin B12 supplements: This manages vitamin B12 deficiency
• Iron supplements: Helps to increase iron in the blood

Conclusion:

Treatment options for anaemia generally involve taking supplements and tweaking one’s diet. If the cause of blood loss is bleeding, then surgery might be required to stop it. Issues within the bone marrow can also lead to abnormal or insufficient production of healthy red blood cells. In that case, special medications and injections might be required to stimulate certain hormones that produce red blood cells. Symptoms of anaemia should not be ignored; consult a haematologist for the best-needed treatment.

References:

1. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Home. Treatment and Management. Available from:https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/treatment
2. American Society of Hematology. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Available from: https://www.hematology.org/education/patients/anemia/iron-deficiency
3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Home. Treatment and Management. Available from: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/treatment

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