title: Two cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia secondary to brucellosis: a review of hemolytic disorders in patients with brucellosis.
abstract: Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease associated with hemolytic complications, including thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and hemolytic anemia. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare clinical presentation of this disease. In this report, we describe the cases of two patients with brucellosis who presented with Coombs-positive AIHA. We also include a review of the literature on the hemolytic complications of brucellosis. Both patients were successfully treated with a combination of doxycycline and rifampicin in addition to steroids. In the medical literature, there are several cases of TMA associated with brucellosis, although only a few cases of Coombs test-positive AIHA have been reported. Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment, and the selection of antibiotics and duration of treatment do not differ between brucellosis patients with and without hemolysis. Although rare, the potential for brucellosis should always be kept in mind in patients who present with hemolysis, especially those living in areas where brucellosis is endemic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Emre
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Eskazan
authors.forename: Mehmet Sinan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dal
authors.forename: Safak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Tuba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dal
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayyildiz
authors.forename: Teoman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Soysal
mesh_terms: D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000209:etiology; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000209:etiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003298:Coombs Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents