Anaemia Flashcards
(66 cards)
What are the two types of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA)?
‘Warm’ and ‘cold’ types.
What is the most common cause of AIHA?
It is most commonly idiopathic.
What are some secondary causes of AIHA?
Lymphoproliferative disorder, infection, or drugs.
What are the general features of haemolytic anaemia?
Anaemia, reticulocytosis, low haptoglobin, raised lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and indirect bilirubin, blood film showing spherocytes and reticulocytes.
What is a specific feature of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia?
Positive direct antiglobulin test (Coombs’ test).
What type of antibody is involved in warm AIHA?
Usually IgG.
At what temperature does warm AIHA cause haemolysis best?
At body temperature.
Where does haemolysis tend to occur in warm AIHA?
In extravascular sites, for example the spleen.
What are some causes of warm AIHA?
Idiopathic, autoimmune disease (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus), neoplasia, lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, drugs (e.g. methyldopa).
What is the first-line management for warm AIHA?
Treatment of any underlying disorder, steroids (+/- rituximab).
What type of antibody is involved in cold AIHA?
Usually IgM.
At what temperature does cold AIHA cause haemolysis best?
At 4 degrees Celsius.
How is haemolysis mediated in cold AIHA?
By complement and is more commonly intravascular.
What symptoms may be associated with cold AIHA?
Symptoms of Raynaud’s and acrocynosis.
How do patients with cold AIHA respond to steroids?
Patients respond less well to steroids.
What are some causes of cold AIHA?
Neoplasia (e.g. lymphoma), infections (e.g. mycoplasma, EBV).
Can systemic lupus erythematosus be associated with AIHA?
Yes, it can rarely be associated with a mixed-type autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.
What are the subtypes of hereditary haemolytic anaemias?
Hereditary haemolytic anaemias can be subdivided into membrane, metabolism, or haemoglobin defects.
What are the hereditary causes of membrane defects?
Hereditary causes of membrane defects include hereditary spherocytosis and elliptocytosis.
What is a hereditary metabolic defect that causes haemolytic anaemia?
G6PD deficiency is a hereditary metabolic defect that causes haemolytic anaemia.
What are the haemoglobinopathies associated with hereditary haemolytic anaemias?
Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia are haemoglobinopathies associated with hereditary haemolytic anaemias.
What are the subtypes of acquired haemolytic anaemias?
Acquired haemolytic anaemias can be subdivided into immune and non-immune causes.
What are the immune causes of acquired haemolytic anaemias?
Immune causes (Coombs-positive) include autoimmune (warm/cold antibody type), alloimmune (transfusion reaction, haemolytic disease newborn), and drug-related causes (methyldopa, penicillin).
What are the non-immune causes of acquired haemolytic anaemias?
Non-immune causes (Coombs-negative) include microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MAHA), prosthetic heart valves, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, infections (malaria), drug-related causes (dapsone), and Zieve syndrome.