Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA

General

  • Primary or secondary
  • Species differences
  • Different classes
    • warm antibody type
    • warm agglutinins
    • in vivo hemolysis
    • incomplete antibody type
    • cold antibody type
    • cold agglutinins
    • nonagglutinating hemolytic cold antibody type

Etiology

  • Idiopathic
  • Drugs
  • Virus

Clinical signs

Variable depending upon the antibody type

  • Anemia
  • Tachypnea
  • Tachycardia
  • Icterus
  • Hemoglobinuria
  • Lethargy
  • Spleenomegaly
  • Hepatomegaly
  • Lymphadenopathy
  • Acrocyanosis

Diagnosis

  • Hematological findings
  • Biochemistry findings
  • Immunological findings
  • Bone marrow biopsy
  • History and physical exam
  • Urinalysis
  • Radiographic findings
  • Therapy
  • High dose steroids initial
  • Blood transfusion
  • Cytotoxic drugs
  • Splenectomy
  • Treat the offending parasite, drug reaction, infection
  • Prognosis is poor to guarded
  • Plasmapheresis
Last modified: Tuesday, 5 June 2012, 1:06 PM