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Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Other Names for this Disease
  • Acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Anemia hemolytic autoimmune
  • Familial auto-immune hemolytic anemia (subtype)
  • Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Immuno-hemolytic anemia
More Names
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Overview


Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) occurs when your immune system makes antibodies that attack your red blood cells. This causes a drop in the number of red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia. Symptoms may include unusual weakness and fatigue with tachycardia and breathing difficulties, jaundice, dark urine and/or splenomegaly. AIHA can be primary (idiopathic) or result from an underlying disease or medication. The condition may develop gradually or occur suddenly.[1][2] There are two main types of autoimmune hemolytic anemia: warm antibody hemolytic anemia and cold antibody hemolytic anemia.[2][3][4] Treatment may include corticosteroids such as prednisone, splenectomy, immunosuppressive drugs and/or blood transfusions.[3]

References

  1. Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia. MedlinePlus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000579.htm. Accessed December 19, 2012.
  2. Michel M. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Orphanet. http://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/Disease_Search.php?lng=EN&data_id=13392. Accessed December 19, 2012.
  3. Lichtin AE. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. Merck Manual. http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/blood_disorders/anemia/autoimmune_hemolytic_anemia.html. Accessed December 19, 2012.
  4. Types of Hemolytic Anemia. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ha/types.html. Accessed December 19, 2012.
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General Information

  • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
  • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition. Click on the link to view the information.
  • The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and sleep disorders. Since October 1997, the NHLBI has also had administrative responsibility for the NIH Woman's Health Initiative. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.  Access to this database is free of charge.  Click on the link to read information on this topic.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
  • The The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.