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Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a specific disorder that belongs to a group of disorders characterized by a malfunction of the immune system that produces autoantibodies, which attack red blood cells as if they were substances foreign to the body.
There are two main types of autoimmune hemolytic anemia:
- Warm antibody hemolytic anemia – the autoantibodies attach to and destroy red blood cells at temperatures equal to normal body temperature
- Cold antibody hemolytic anemia - the autoantibodies become most active and attack red blood cells only at temperatures well below normal body temperature
Diagnosis of hemolytic anemia
Anaemia can be easily identified by simple blood tests measuring the number of red blood cells and the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
Blood tests
- CBC count
- Peripheral smear and morphological examination
- RBC indices
- Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) study
- Reticulocyte count
- Lactic acid dehydrogenase test
- Serum haptoglobin
- Indirect bilirubin
- Potassium test
- Platelet count
- Peripheral smear
- Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
- Serum iron
- Hematocrit
- Ferritin
Results of the blood studies should show the
following:
- Elevated indirect bilirubin levels
- Low serum haptoglobin
- Hemoglobin in the urine
- Hemosiderin in the urine
- Increased urine and fecal urobilinogen
- Elevated absolute reticulocyte count
- Low red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin
- Elevated serum LDH
Imaging studies
The ultrasound may be used to estimate spleen size. The physical examination occasionally does not detect significant splenomegaly. Chest radiograph is used to evaluate cardiopulmonary status.
There is a specific procedure to diagnose an autoimmune type of anemia. Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is diagnosed by the presence of antibodies that bind to red cells in the blood.
Continue reading after recommendations
- www.nlm.nih.gov
- www.hcd2.bupa.co.uk
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoimmune_haemolytic_anaemia