Open AccessAntihypertensive Medications and Anemia
Author(s) -
Sica Domenic A.,
Mannino Rosemarie
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2007.06296.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hemoglobin , anemia , angiotensin receptor blockers , red blood cell , pharmacology , renin–angiotensin system , blood pressure
Antihypertensive medication use can be associated with a reduction in hemoglobin concentration. The magnitude of such a change is generally small, but in certain instances it can be extreme enough to produce a clinically significant degree of anemia. The mechanistic basis for antihypertensive medication‐related changes in hemoglobin concentration include hemodilution, hemolytic anemia, and suppression of red blood cell production, as this occurs most commonly with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers. A reduction in hemoglobin concentration in a patient who is receiving treatment for hypertension and does not have an obvious source of blood loss should account for potential antihypertensive therapy involvement.