Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia: a review of clinical and laboratory considerations
Pittiglio, D.H.
Immunohematology 1(1): 1-8
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0894-203X PMID: 15945823 Document Number: 10391
Immune hemolytic anemia is defined as an increase in red cell destruction mediated by antibody production. Numerous classifications have been proposed; however, three broad categories are routinely used: 1. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) 2. Alloimmune Hemolytic Anemia 3. Drug-Induced Immune Hemolytic Anemia Autoimmune and drug-induced hemolytic anemia are rather uncommon, but not rare. The significance of AIHA in the laboratory is far greater than a statistical evaluation of its incidence might imply, because of the problems autoantibodies create when encountered. The majority of AIHA cases can be divided into warm and cold classifications, with warm being the most common type, representing approximately 70% of the cases of AIHA. It has been reported in persons of all races and all ages. In comparison, cold AIHA occurs mainly in older individuals as cold agglutinin syndrome, has a peak incidence beyond 50 years of age, and accounts for 16% of the cases of AIHA. Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) is the least common type, with an incidence of 1 to 2%. It is, however, more common in children in association with viral disorders such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, infectious mononucleosis, and the illdefined "flu syndromes" Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia, which is sometimes difficult to distinguish from cases of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (WAIHA), represents approximately 12% of the cases in various studies. This review will focus on warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia and will attempt to provide a basic understanding of the clinical manifestations as well as an update on the appropriate serological testing.
Document emailed within 1 workday
