Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with pneumococcal bacteremia

Acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia frequently occurs in an individual with a deranged immune system. This impaired immune system can also predispose the patient to infections with a wide range of organisms. Also, it is known that certain infectious organisms can induce immune hemolytic anemia in normal hosts by diverse mechanisms. When autoimmune hemolytic anemia presents concomitantly with infection, it is extremely difficult to establish the etiology of the condition. We present a case of severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia of the warm antibody type associated with pneumococcal sepsis in which both the infectious process and the hemolysis are probably secondary to an altered immune system.