BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuImmune hemolytic anemiaAnemia - immune hemolytic; Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to the body's tissues.Red blood cells last for about 120 days before the body gets rid of them. In hemolytic anemia, red blood cells in the blood are destroyed earlier than normal.Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when antibodies form against the body's own red blood cells and destroy them. This happens because the immune system mistakenly recognizes these blood cells as foreign.AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes Possible causes include:Certain chemicals, medicines, and toxins Infections Transfusion of blood from a donor with a blood type that does not match Certain cancers When antibodies form against red blood cells for no reason, the condition is called idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia.AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The antibodies may also be caused by:A complication of another disease Past blood transfusions Pregnancy (if the baby's blood type is different from the mother's)Risk factors are related to the causes. Symptoms You may not have symptoms if the anemia is mild. If the problem develops slowly, symptoms that may occur first include:Feeling weak or tired more often than usual, or with exercise Headaches Problems concentrating or thinking If the anemia gets worse, symptoms may include:Lightheadedness when you stand up Pale skin color (pallor) PallorPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sore tongue Exams and Tests You may need the following tests:Absolute reticulocyte count Reticulocyte countReticulocytes are slightly immature red blood cells. A reticulocyte count is a blood test that measures the amount of these cells in the blood....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Direct or indirect Coombs test Coombs testThe Coombs test looks for antibodies that may stick to your red blood cells and cause red blood cells to die too early.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hemoglobin in the urine HemoglobinHemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The hemoglobin test measures how much hemoglobin is in your blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article LDH (level of this enzyme rises as a result of tissue damage) LDHLactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a protein that helps produce energy in the body. An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, and hematocrit Red blood cell countAn RBC count is a blood test that measures how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have. RBCs contain hemoglobin, a protein which carries oxygen. How mu...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HematocritHematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person's blood is made up of red blood cells as opposed to plasma. This measurement depends o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum bilirubin level BilirubinThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum haptoglobin Serum haptoglobinThe haptoglobin blood test measures the level of haptoglobin in your blood. Haptoglobin is a protein produced by the liver. It attaches to hemoglobi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Donath-Landsteiner test Cold agglutinins Platelet count Protein electrophoresis - serum Pyruvate kinase Treatment The first treatment tried is most often a steroid medicine, such as prednisone. If a steroid medicine does not improve the condition, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or removal of the spleen (splenectomy) may be considered.You may receive treatment to suppress your immune system if you do not respond to steroids. Medicines such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and rituximab (Rituxan) have been used.Blood transfusions are given with caution, because the blood may not be compatible and it may cause more red blood cell destruction. Outlook (Prognosis) The disease may start quickly and be very serious, or it may stay mild and not need special treatment.In most people, steroids or splenectomy can totally or partially control anemia. Possible Complications Severe anemia rarely leads to death. Severe infection may occur as a complication of treatment with steroids, other medicines that suppress the immune system, or splenectomy. These treatments impair the body's ability to fight infection. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have unexplained fatigue or chest pain, or signs of infection. Prevention Screening for antibodies in donated blood and in the recipient may prevent hemolytic anemia related to blood transfusions. Open ReferencesReferencesMichel M. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 146.Michel M, Jäger U. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 47.Wong E, Rose MG, Berliner N. Disorders of red blood cells. In: Wing EJ, Schiffman FJ, eds. Cecil Essentials of Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 48.AllVideoImagesTogAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationA Closer Look Anemia(Alt. Medicine)Anemia - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for Immune hemolytic anemia Blood typingSugar-water hemolysis testSerum free hemoglobin testBlood smearRelated Information Antibody(Special Topic)Hemolytic anemia(Condition) Review Date: 3/31/2024 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Immune hemolytic anemiaAnemia - immune hemolytic; Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA)Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to the body's tissues.Red blood cells last for about 120 days before the body gets rid of them. In hemolytic anemia, red blood cells in the blood are destroyed earlier than normal.Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when antibodies form against the body's own red blood cells and destroy them. This happens because the immune system mistakenly recognizes these blood cells as foreign.AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes Possible causes include:Certain chemicals, medicines, and toxins Infections Transfusion of blood from a donor with a blood type that does not match Certain cancers When antibodies form against red blood cells for no reason, the condition is called idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia.AntibodiesAn antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include micr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The antibodies may also be caused by:A complication of another disease Past blood transfusions Pregnancy (if the baby's blood type is different from the mother's)Risk factors are related to the causes. Symptoms You may not have symptoms if the anemia is mild. If the problem develops slowly, symptoms that may occur first include:Feeling weak or tired more often than usual, or with exercise Headaches Problems concentrating or thinking If the anemia gets worse, symptoms may include:Lightheadedness when you stand up Pale skin color (pallor) PallorPaleness is an abnormal loss of color from normal skin or mucous membranes.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sore tongue Exams and Tests You may need the following tests:Absolute reticulocyte count Reticulocyte countReticulocytes are slightly immature red blood cells. A reticulocyte count is a blood test that measures the amount of these cells in the blood....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Direct or indirect Coombs test Coombs testThe Coombs test looks for antibodies that may stick to your red blood cells and cause red blood cells to die too early.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hemoglobin in the urine HemoglobinHemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The hemoglobin test measures how much hemoglobin is in your blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article LDH (level of this enzyme rises as a result of tissue damage) LDHLactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a protein that helps produce energy in the body. An LDH test measures the amount of LDH in the blood.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin, and hematocrit Red blood cell countAn RBC count is a blood test that measures how many red blood cells (RBCs) you have. RBCs contain hemoglobin, a protein which carries oxygen. How mu...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HematocritHematocrit is a blood test that measures how much of a person's blood is made up of red blood cells as opposed to plasma. This measurement depends o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum bilirubin level BilirubinThe bilirubin blood test measures the level of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellowish pigment found in bile, a fluid made by the liver. Bi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum haptoglobin Serum haptoglobinThe haptoglobin blood test measures the level of haptoglobin in your blood. Haptoglobin is a protein produced by the liver. It attaches to hemoglobi...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Donath-Landsteiner test Cold agglutinins Platelet count Protein electrophoresis - serum Pyruvate kinase Treatment The first treatment tried is most often a steroid medicine, such as prednisone. If a steroid medicine does not improve the condition, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or removal of the spleen (splenectomy) may be considered.You may receive treatment to suppress your immune system if you do not respond to steroids. Medicines such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), and rituximab (Rituxan) have been used.Blood transfusions are given with caution, because the blood may not be compatible and it may cause more red blood cell destruction. Outlook (Prognosis) The disease may start quickly and be very serious, or it may stay mild and not need special treatment.In most people, steroids or splenectomy can totally or partially control anemia. Possible Complications Severe anemia rarely leads to death. Severe infection may occur as a complication of treatment with steroids, other medicines that suppress the immune system, or splenectomy. These treatments impair the body's ability to fight infection. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if you have unexplained fatigue or chest pain, or signs of infection. Prevention Screening for antibodies in donated blood and in the recipient may prevent hemolytic anemia related to blood transfusions. Open ReferencesReferencesMichel M. Autoimmune and intravascular hemolytic anemias. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 146.Michel M, Jäger U. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 47.Wong E, Rose MG, Berliner N. Disorders of red blood cells. In: Wing EJ, Schiffman FJ, eds. Cecil Essentials of Medicine. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 48.
