Autoimmune hemolytic anemia terminating seven years later in Hodgkin's disease

A 64-year-old woman was treated during 7(1/2) years for an isolated AIHA by transfusions, prednisone and splenectomy. The autoantibody was a warm-type IgG with anti-e specificity. At autopsy, generalized Hodgkin's disease of mixed cellularity was found. Only 11 similar cases of hemolytic anemia preceding the development of Hodgkin's disease have been reported in the literature. This association suggests a possible underlying defect in the immune system of the host.