[Antibody-mediated cell-specific hematopoietic autoimmune disorders]

Although it is clear that immunologic mechanisms play a significant role in the pathophysiology of many hematologic diseases, there are relative few situations where it is possible to gain a detailed understanding of immune damage in vivo in humans. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia and immune neutropenia as antibody-mediated cell-specific disorders are of particular interest in this regard. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia represents a group of disorders in which individuals produce antibodies directed toward one or more of their own erythrocyte membrane antigens. This leads to destruction of the antibody-coated erythrocytes. The pathophysiology of the decreased erythrocyte survival has been examined with increasing sophistication for many years. This paper first discusses the underlying mechanisms responsible for autoimmune hemolytic anemias then consider immune thrombocytopenia and immune neutropenia.