Chronic autoimmune hemolytic anemia in children: a report of four patients

Four children, ages seven to ten years, with direct antiglobulin test (DAT)-positive chronic hemolytic anemia are presented. The patients were followed for 3 to 10 years. Autoantibody against red cell antigens was nonspecific IgG type in all of the patients. In one of the four patients, anemia was associated with splenomegaly and jaundice. In this patient, the third component of the complement was also detected on the red cell surface. In one patient, serum IgA deficiency and frequent pulmonary infections were associated with the disease. This patient developed rheumatoid arthritis five years after diagnosis of hemolytic anemia. The third patient initially had thrombocytopenia subsequently developed DAT-positive hemolytic anemia, vitiligo and alopecia without any evidence of serologic changes suggestive of collagen vascular disorders. In these three patients, partial response was obtained with steroid therapy. The fourth patient developed DAT-positive hemolytic anemia twice during the five year follow-up period. Anemia resolved completely with steroid therapy in two months during the first episode, and in five months in the second. Generalized and peripheral lymphadenopathies which developed at the time of the second hemolytic anemia episode have persisted for the last three years. Administration of cyclosporine in two of the four patients did not result in any amelioration of the symptoms.