Ortiz-Guevara JR, Méndez-Torres M, García-Hernández LP, Ramírez E, González C, Villela L

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 168-176
PDF size: 135.19 Kb.

ABSTRACT

The condition known as autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an uncommon disorder caused by autoantibodies directed against self-red blood cells (RBC). It can be known as primary AIHA (50%) in the absence of an underlying disease or secondary AIHA, when it is related with lymphoproliferative syndromes (20%), autoimmune diseases (20%), infections and tumors. Clinical features depend on the severity of the hemolytic process and by the underlying diseases, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphomas, which account for about half of all secondary AIHA cases. As the first line treatment for AIHA is high dose of steroids. For a second line treatment there are several options, although splenectomy and rituximab are the only second-line treatments with a proven short-term efficacy.