Anti B cell targeted therapy for autoimmune hemolytic anemia in an infant

Darshak Makadia1, Sirisha Rani Siddaiahgari, M S Latha

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Hemato Oncology, Rainbow Children's Tertiary Care Centre, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an immune mediated destruction of erythrocytes, which has a good prognosis in children. It is known to have chronic, remitting or relapsing course, especially in infants and adolescents. Treatment of refractory or relapsing AIHA is a challenge as the other aim of the treatment is to avoid prolonged exposure to steroids or other immunosuppressants in small children. Rituximab is used in patients who are non-responsive to conventional treatment such as steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and transfusion therapy. It has varying therapeutic success rate. We report a case of AIHA in a 4-month-old infant who had ill-sustained response to conventional therapy, but responded to rituximab.

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