title: Anti B cell targeted therapy for autoimmune hemolytic anemia in an infant.
abstract: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an immune mediated destruction of erythrocytes, which has a good prognosis in children. It is known to have chronic, remitting or relapsing course, especially in infants and adolescents. Treatment of refractory or relapsing AIHA is a challenge as the other aim of the treatment is to avoid prolonged exposure to steroids or other immunosuppressants in small children. Rituximab is used in patients who are non-responsive to conventional treatment such as steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and transfusion therapy. It has varying therapeutic success rate. We report a case of AIHA in a 4-month-old infant who had ill-sustained response to conventional therapy, but responded to rituximab.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hemato Oncology, Rainbow Children's Tertiary Care Centre, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Darshak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Makadia
authors.forename: Sirisha Rani
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Siddaiahgari
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Latha
mesh_terms: D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D006454:Hemoglobins; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia; conventional therapy; rituximab; treatment resistance