Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia is an entity resulting due to autoantibodies directed against red blood cells.
Objectives:
To study the children with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, with respect to etiology, triggering factors and complications.
Design:
Prospective descriptive study. Setting: Department of Hematology, from 1996-2005. Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital. Subjects and methods: 10 children with autoimmune hemolytic anemia in the age group 7 months to 15 years with equal male: female ratio and followed up over a period between 8 months to 10 years to assess the etiology, triggering factors for relapse, long term outcome and complications.
Results:
We had 10 children with Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in the age group of 7 month to 15 years. There were equal number of male and female children. Pallor (100%), fever (90%), Hepatosplenomegaly (70%), jaundice (50%) were the most common presenting features. 8 (80%) were idiopathic. Among them 6 (60%) were positive for warm antibodies and 2 (20%) were positive for cold antibodies, 2 (20%) were Anti Nuclear Antibody positive Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. All children received methylprednisolone followed by oral steroids. On follow-up 3 (30%) were well, 7 (70%) children relapsed all of which were precipitated by minor infections, 4 (40%) had only one relapse. One child was lost for follow-up. There was no mortality.
Conclusion:
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia is a potentially fatal disease, which requires rapid recognition and continuing therapy. Relapse occurred in 7 (70%) of children associated with minor infections. 2 (20%) were part of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Mortality was nil.
Key words:
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, Therapy, Outcome.
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