Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, also known by the acronym AHAI, is a disease characterized by the production of antibodies that react against red blood cells, destroying them and producing anemia, with symptoms such as fatigue, paleness, dizziness, yellowing and bad skin and eyes. Be
This type of anemia can affect anyone, but it is more common in young adults. Although its cause is not always clarified, it can result from deregulation of the immune system after infection, the presence of another autoimmune disease, the use of certain medications or even cancer.
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is not always curable.
- However.
- It has a treatment that is mainly performed with the use of drugs to regulate the immune system.
- Such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
- In some cases.
- Removal of the spleen.
- Called splenectomy.
- May be indicated because it’s where part of the red blood cells is destroyed.
Symptoms of autoimmune hemolytic anemia include
These symptoms are very similar to those caused by other types of anemia, so your doctor needs to order tests that can help identify the exact cause, such as reducing the dose of red blood cells, the high number of reticulocytes, which are immature red blood cells, as well as immunological tests.
Learn how to differentiate the causes of anemia.
The cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is not always identified, however, in many cases it may be secondary to the presence of other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, such as lymphomas or leukemias or by reaction to medications such as levodopa, methyldopa, anti-inflammatory.
It can also occur after infections, such as those caused by viruses such as Epstein-Barr or Parvovirus B19, or by bacteria such as Mycobacterium pneumoniae or Treponema pallidum when they cause tertiary syphilis, for example.
In about 20% of cases, autoimmune hemolytic anemia is aggravated by cold, because in these cases, antibodies are triggered by low temperatures, called AHAI by cold antibodies. The remaining cases are called AHAI for hot antibodies, and they are most.
For the diagnosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, tests your doctor will prescribe include:
Because many anemias can have similar symptoms and tests, it’s very important that your doctor can differentiate the different causes of anemia. For more information about testing, see: Tests that Confirm Anemia.
It cannot be said that there is a cure for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, as it is common for patients with this disease to experience periods of epidemics and improve their condition.
To live as long as possible in a period of remission, it is necessary to perform the treatment indicated by the hematologist, based on drugs that regulate the immune system, including corticosteroids, such as prednisone, immunosuppressants, such as cyclophosphamide or cyclosporine, immunomodulators, such as human immunoglobulin or plasmapheresis, which helps to eliminate antibodies, in severe cases.
Surgical removal of the spleen, called splenectomy, is an option in some cases, especially for patients who do not respond well to treatment. Because the risk of infection may increase in people who remove this organ, vaccines such as pneumococcal and meningococcal disease are recommended. Learn more about care and recovery after spleen removal.
In addition, the choice of treatment depends on the type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the symptoms that occur, and the severity of each disease. The duration of treatment varies and, in some cases, you may try to start withdrawing your medications after approximately 6 months to evaluate the response, according to the advice of the hematologist.