Causes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and its clinical presentation.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate various causes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia and its presenting signs and symptoms. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore. Period: November 2018 to April 2019. Material & Methods: In this study 90 cases were included having age range of 14-75 years with mean age of 46.5 year with the possibility of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Screening test used for evaluating AIHAin this study include Direct and Indirect Antiglobulin Tests and Cold Agglutinin Titer (CAT). All relevant data was documented properly. Results: Total 90 cases were included in the study comprising on 71% female and 29% male cases. 22.2% cases were having primary and 77.8% were having secondary autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Most common presenting complaint was generalized body weakness in 25(27.7%) cases and on examination most common finding was splenomegaly in 30(33.3%) cases. Hemoglobin was less than 8g/dl in 28(31%) cases. Direct Antiglobulin test was positive in 64(71%) cases, DAT and IATboth were found to be positive in 22(24.4%) cases and DAT and CAT both found positive in 4(4.4%) cases. Blood transfusion was done in 28% cases having severe anemia. Most common cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia found among study group patients was connective tissue disorder in 25(27.8%) cases. P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant and more than 0.05 was non-significant. Conclusion: In our study autoimmune hemolytic anemia was mostly found in female population with most common presentation of generalized body weakness, pallor of hands, hepatosplenomegaly and severe anemia. Most common cause found of AIHA was connective tissue disorders.