Prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in autoimmune hemolytic anemia patients based on coombs test results

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare blood disorder with an incidence of 1-3 per 100,000 people annually and a mortality rate of about 11%. AIHA is classified into warm, cold, and mixed types, which can be primary or secondary. Diagnosis is made through direct and indirect Coombs tests.

This study aims to describe Coombs test results in suspected AIHA patients at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital in Bandung from 2020 to 2022.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 78 AIHA cases. Blood samples were taken for both direct and indirect Coombs tests.

Among the 78 subjects, 83.33% were female, with an average age of 26.06 ± 15.91 years. The warm type of AIHA was most common (91.03%). Primary etiology was the most common in all AIHA types: 47.89% in warm, 66.67% in cold, and 50% in mixed. The most common direct Coombs test result was + 3 in warm (47.89%), cold (33.33%), and mixed (75%) AIHA. The most frequent indirect Coombs result was + 2 in warm (30.99%) and mixed (75%) AIHA, and + 3 in cold AIHA (66.67%).

This study shows that AIHA at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital is more prevalent in females and younger individuals, with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) being the most common secondary cause. Warm AIHA was the most frequent, with a rare occurrence of mixed AIHA.