Congenital anemias may be complicated by immune-mediated hemolytic crisis. Alloantibodies are usually seen in chronically transfused patients, and autoantibodies have also been described, although they are rarely associated with overt autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a serious and potentially life-threatening complication. Given the lack of data on the AIHA diagnosis and management in congenital anemias, we retrospectively evaluated all clinically relevant AIHA cases occurring at a referral center for AIHA, hemoglobinopathies, and chronic hemolytic anemias, focusing on clinical management and outcome. In our cohort, AIHA had a prevalence of 1% (14/1410 patients). The majority were warm AIHA. Possible triggers were recent transfusion, infection, pregnancy, and surgery. All the patients received steroid therapy as the first line, and about 25% required further treatment, including rituximab, azathioprine, intravenous immunoglobulins, and cyclophosphamide. Transfusion support was required in 57% of the patients with non-transfusion-dependent anemia, and recombinant human erythropoietin was safely administered in one third of the patients. AIHA in congenital anemias may be challenging both from a diagnostic and a therapeutic point of view. A proper evaluation of hemolytic markers, bone marrow compensation, and assessment of the direct antiglobulin test is mandatory.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as a Complication of Congenital Anemias. A Case Series and Review of the Literature / I. Motta, J. Alessandro Giannotta, M. Ferraresi, K. Barbullushi, N. Revelli, G. Graziadei, W. Barcellini, B. Fattizzo. - In: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE. - ISSN 2077-0383. - 10:15(2021 Aug), pp. 3439.1-3439.11. [10.3390/jcm10153439]

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as a Complication of Congenital Anemias. A Case Series and Review of the Literature

I. Motta
Primo
;
M. Ferraresi;K. Barbullushi;B. Fattizzo
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

Congenital anemias may be complicated by immune-mediated hemolytic crisis. Alloantibodies are usually seen in chronically transfused patients, and autoantibodies have also been described, although they are rarely associated with overt autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a serious and potentially life-threatening complication. Given the lack of data on the AIHA diagnosis and management in congenital anemias, we retrospectively evaluated all clinically relevant AIHA cases occurring at a referral center for AIHA, hemoglobinopathies, and chronic hemolytic anemias, focusing on clinical management and outcome. In our cohort, AIHA had a prevalence of 1% (14/1410 patients). The majority were warm AIHA. Possible triggers were recent transfusion, infection, pregnancy, and surgery. All the patients received steroid therapy as the first line, and about 25% required further treatment, including rituximab, azathioprine, intravenous immunoglobulins, and cyclophosphamide. Transfusion support was required in 57% of the patients with non-transfusion-dependent anemia, and recombinant human erythropoietin was safely administered in one third of the patients. AIHA in congenital anemias may be challenging both from a diagnostic and a therapeutic point of view. A proper evaluation of hemolytic markers, bone marrow compensation, and assessment of the direct antiglobulin test is mandatory.
autoimmune hemolytic anemia; alloimmunization; thalassemia; sickle cell disease; congenital hemolytic anemias;
Settore MED/09 - Medicina Interna
Settore MED/15 - Malattie del Sangue
ago-2021
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
jcm-10-03439-v2.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 253.34 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
253.34 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/861277
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 0
  • Scopus 8
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 8
social impact