Autoimmune Haemolytic anaemia Flashcards
What do patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia have on their RBC’s ?
Antibodies directed against cell surface markers on the red blood cell.
What are the 2 forms of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
Warm
Cold
What does the warm and cold refer to?
At what temperature the antibodies best cause haemolysis
What antibody causes warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
IgG
Where does haemolyisis usually occur in warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
Extravascular sites, e.g. the spleen.
What are the main causes of warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
idiopathic
autoimmune disease: e.g. SLE
neoplasia- lymphoma and CLL
drugs-methyldopa
What is an autoimmune cause of warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
SLE
What is a drug cause of warm autoimmune haemolyitc anaemia?
Methyldopa
What is the management of warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
Treat underlying cause
Steroids (+/- rituximab)
What antibody causes cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
IgM
Where does haemolyisis usually occur in cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
Intravascular sites
What might features of cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia include symptoms of?
Raynaud’s
Acrocynaosis.
What are the main causes of cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
neoplasia- lymphoma
infections- mycoplasma, EBV
What are cold and warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia positive for?
Coombs test positve
What will be low in someone with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
Haptoglobin
