title: Diagnosis and classification of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
abstract: Uncompensated autoantibody-mediated red blood cell (RBC) consumption is the hallmark of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Classification of AIHA is pathophysiologically based and divides AIHA into warm, mixed or cold-reactive subtypes. This thermal-based classification is based on the optimal autoantibody-RBC reactivity temperatures. AIHA is further subcategorized into idiopathic and secondary with the later being associated with a number of underlying infectious, neoplastic and autoimmune disorders. In most cases AIHA is confirmed by a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT). The standard therapeutic approaches to treatment of AIHA include corticosteroids, splenectomy, immunosuppressive agents and monoclonal antibodies.
authors.affiliation: California Polytechnic State University, Department of Biochemistry, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Garrett F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Bass
authors.affiliation: California Polytechnic State University, Department of Biochemistry, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Emily T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Tuscano
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Cancer Center, 4501 X St., Suite 3016, Sacramento, CA 95817, United States; Department of Veterans Affairs, Northern California Healthcare System, 150 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553, United States. Electronic address: joseph.tuscano@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tuscano
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003298:Coombs Test; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents