Clinical features and treatment of primary autoimmune hemolytic anemia in childhood

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is characterized by autoimmune destruction of erythrocytes. In this retrospective study, the clinical, laboratory features and treatment responses of patients with primary AIHA were evaluated.

21 consecutive patients diagnosed with primary AIHA in a children's hospital from 2008 to 2016 were included. Clinical, laboratory findings and treatment responses were analyzed.

Twenty-one patients, aged 6 months-15 years, with direct antiglobulin test positive anemia were presented. Pallor and jaundice were the common complaints and icterus and hepatomegaly /splenomegaly was the most common physical findings. Thirteen patients (62%) had a previous infection history. At the time of diagnosis, hemoglobin level was 3-10.5 g/dL. Fifty- eight percent of patients had IgG reactivity and 29.4% patients had both IgG and C3d reactivity. Eight patients were given methylprednisolone, 11 patients received prednisone and 14 patients received intravenous immunoglobulin. Five patients (23.8%) were transfused due to severe anemia. Two patients did not need any treatment. The response rate following first-line treatment was 94%. One patient who did not respond any treatment died of infection.

Primary AIHA is an acute illness mostly self-limiting or requiring short-term steroid therapy. Rarely, it might be resistant to immunosuppressive treatment and be mortal.