title: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
abstract: Red blood cell (RBC) autoantibodies are a relatively uncommon cause of anemia. However, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) must be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemolytic anemias, especially if the patient has a concomitant lymphoproliferative disorder, autoimmune disease, or viral or mycoplasmal infection. Classifications of AIHA include warm AIHA, cold agglutinin syndrome, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, mixed-type AIHA, and drug-induced AIHA. Characteristics of the autoantibodies are responsible for the various clinical entities. As a result, diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation and a serologic work-up. For each classification of AIHA, this review discusses the demographics, etiology, clinical presentation, laboratory evaluation, and treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gehrs
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Friedberg
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006457:Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies