HAPTOGLOBIN

HAPTOGLOBIN

A haptoglobin test measures the amount of haptoglobin in your blood. Haptoglobin is a protein produced by your liver. It binds with hemoglobin, which is a protein found in red blood cells.

Red blood cells have the important role of transporting oxygen from the lungs to the heart and the rest of the body. They’re produced by the bone marrow and are eventually broken down in the liver and spleen. When red blood cells are destroyed, they release hemoglobin. The released hemoglobin is called “free hemoglobin.” Haptoglobin attaches to the free hemoglobin to create a haptoglobin-hemoglobin complex. This complex travels to the liver, where it’s removed from the body.

Normally, the body maintains the balance between red blood cell destruction and production. When this process is disrupted, however, red blood cells may be eliminated at a faster rate than they’re made.This causes haptoglobin levels to drop, as the protein is being eliminated from the body faster than the liver can make it.

Increased red blood cell destruction may occur as a result of:

• Inherited conditions that cause abnormalities in the size or shape of red blood cells, such as hereditary spherocytosis
• Spleen disorders
• Cirrhosis, or severe scarring of the liver
• Myelofibrosis, or scarring of the bone marrow

These conditions can lead to the development of a form of anemia called hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia occurs when the bone marrow can’t produce red blood cells as quickly as they’re being destroyed. The inadequate supply of red blood cells means that the body may not get enough oxygen. A haptoglobin test can detect whether you have hemolytic anemia or another type of anemia. It may also help determine the exact cause of increased red blood cell destruction.