title: A fetal hemolytic anemia in a child with cytomegalovirus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a hematologic disorder that is rarely observed in infants and young children. Most of the cases are associated with viral or bacterial infections. In some cases, AIHA can be characterized by a chronic course and an unsatisfactory control of hemolysis, thus requiring prolonged immunosuppressive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Especially in children younger than 2 years of age, the clinical course of the disease may show either resistance to steroids or dependence on high-dose steroids. We report here an infant fatal autoimmune.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case suggests that investigation for the presence of CMV infection in infantile AIHA should be considered. Severe hemolysis is rare but could be a potentially life-threatening complication of CMV infection described mostly in immune compromised adults and children.
authors.affiliation: Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Gholhak Laboratory, Shariaty Street, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosseeini
authors.affiliation: Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sh
authors.initials: Sh
authors.lastname: Ansari
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalantar
authors.affiliation: Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabzechian
authors.affiliation: Aliasghar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alibeik
authors.affiliation: hematology and blood transfusion Department, Allied Medical School, Tehran Unversity of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dorgalaleh
keywords: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia; Cytomegalovirus; Direct anti globulin test; Viral load