Anemia is a condition in which you do not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. Hemolytic anemia occurs when your red blood cells are being destroyed faster than they are being produced. Hemolytic anemia can affect people of all ages. It may worsen existing heart or lung disease. There are many types of hemolytic anemia, and they can be divided into two different groups: inherited and acquired.
Inherited hemolytic anemia is due to a gene that your parents passed on to you. The abnormal cells may break down while moving through your circulatory system. Your spleen may remove the abnormal blood cells and debris from your blood stream. Acquired hemolytic anemia occurs when your red blood cells are destroyed either by certain medicines that you have used or as a result of infections or diseases that you have.