Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

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Background

  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) = generation of auto-antibodies towards red blood cell membrane antigens, leady to hemolysis.
  • Can be primary (idopathic) or due to another disease process (e.g. malignancy, autoimmune disease, infection)

"Warm" Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Autoantibodies agglutinate to RBCs at higher temperatures

"Cold" Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Autoantibodies agglutinate at lower temperatures

Clinical Features

  • Signs and symptoms of anemia (fatigue, pallor, palpitations, etc.)
  • Jaundice and scleral icterus
  • Signs/symptoms of underlying disease process
  • Cold-type:
    • Acrocyanosis, Raynaud's, vascular occlusion with peripehral tissue ischemia

Differential Diagnosis

Anemia

RBC Loss

  • Hemorrhage

RBC consumption (Destruction/hemolytic)

Impaired Production (Hypochromic/microcytic)

  • Iron deficiency
  • Anemia of chronic disease
  • Thalassemia
  • Sideroblastic anemia

Aplastic/myelodysplastic (normocytic)

  • Marrow failure
  • Chemicals (e.g. ETOH)
  • Radiation
  • Infection (HIV, parvo)

Megaloblastic (macrocytic)

  • Vitamin B12/folate deficiency
  • Drugs (chemo)
  • HIV

Evaluation

  • CBC, LFTs, LDH, haptoglobin
  • Direct Coombs test - blood sample is removed of plasma and incubated with anti-human immunoglobulin (aka "Coombs reagent"). This detects if autoantibodies are attached to RBCs or compliment. If the RBCs are coated with IgG (positive direct Coombs test), this suggests the diagnosis of "warm AIHA. If the RBCs are coated with only compliment, this suggests the diagnosis of "cold" AIHA

Treatment

Warm AIHA

  • Oral prednisone 1-1.5mg/kg/day for 1-3 weeks with taper after hemoglobin stable
    • may need several months of low dose prednisone to remain in remission
  • Splenectomy and/or cytotoxic drugs for for steroid-refractory disease
  • Plasmapharesis as temporizing measure for severe disease
  • Transfuse only if truly life-threatening anemia, least incompatible units possible

Cold AIHA

  • No treatment for mild disease
  • Immunosuppressive or cytotoxic medications can be considered
  • Plasmapharesis for severe disease

Disposition

See Also

References