autoimmune haemolytic anaemia Flashcards
define normocytic anaemia
anaemia with normal sized blood cells
define autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
Autoantibodies target and cause haemolysis of red blood cells.
Either warm or cold.
pathophysiology of autoimmune hamolytic anaemia
it is the destruction of red blood cells via autoantibodies.
It can be precipitated by
cold or warm temperatures
what is warm AIHA mediated by
IgG
what is cold AIHA mediated by
IgM
what happens in warm AIHA
it is an extravascular haemolytic disease which means the spleen tags cells for splenic phagocytosis.
what is warm AIHA caused by
SLE, drugs and lymphoproliferative neoplasms
or it can just be idiopathic
what happens in cold AIHA
it is an intravascular haemolytic disease as IgM activates the complement system which
leads to RBC Haemolysis.
what is cold AIHA caused by
infections (i.e EBV),lymphoproliferative
neoplasms
or it can be idiopathic.
symptoms of AIHA
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Fatigue
- Leg ulcers
- Dark urine
- Headaches
signs of AIHA
- Jaundice
- Pallor
- Hepatosplenomegaly
- Acrocyanosis (Cold AIHA)
investigations for AIHA
- FBC + blood film
- Direct Coombs Test
what does FBC and blood film for AIHA show
- Normocytic
- normochromic
- low RBC
- elevated reticulocytes
what is the direct coombs result for AIHA
POSITIVE
treatment for warm AIHA
- Prednisolone
- Immunosuppressants
- Blood Transfusions
(severe)
