In hemolytic anemia, which of the following can result from increased red blood cell destruction?

In hemolytic anemia, increased red blood cell destruction leads to the release of hemoglobin from the lysed erythrocytes. This hemoglobin is then broken down in the liver into bilirubin, which is a pigment that can accumulate in the bloodstream when red blood cell destruction occurs at a rate faster than the liver’s ability to process it. Consequently, patients with hemolytic anemia often present with elevated levels of unconjugated bilirubin in the serum, which can also result in jaundice.

An increased bilirubin level serves as a key diagnostic marker for hemolysis, reflecting the failure of the body to adequately eliminate the byproducts of red blood cell breakdown. This mechanism underscores why increased bilirubin is a hallmark of hemolytic anemias and is crucial for evaluating the severity and nature of the condition.

In this context, while some options may relate loosely to hemolytic anemia—such as a reticulocyte count which may actually increase due to the compensatory response of the bone marrow to increased erythrocyte destruction—the outstanding feature distinguishing increased bilirubin as a direct consequence of RBC destruction makes it the correct answer.