Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis
KEYWORDS
Anemia Autoimmune Cold agglutinin disease Coombs test Hemolysis
Hereditary Warm AIHA
KEY POINTS
While the differential diagnosis of hemolytic anemia is broad, a systematic approach can
allow identification and classification in most cases
Once the presence of hemolysis is determined, the direct antiglobulin test can diagnose
the vast majority of autoimmune hemolytic anemias
Advanced testing for the diagnosis of the rarer nonimmune acquired hemolytic anemias or
hereditary hemolytic anemias should be guided by pretest probability based on the inci-
dence or prevalence and clinical context
INTRODUCTION
Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester,
MN 55905, USA
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: [email protected]
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CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
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Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia 317
Table 1
Incidence of acquired hemolytic anemias
LABORATORY EVALUATION
Individuals evaluated for AIHA will likely have a CBC as well as other laboratory evi-
dence of hemolysis. The clinical utility of these studies is reviewed later in discussion
Table 2
Prevalence of hereditary hemolytic anemias
Prevalence
Type Disease Per 100,000 (Patient Race)
Hemoglobinopathy Sickle cell disease 275 (Black)
Thalassemia 7
Membranopathy Hereditary elliptocytosis 25
Hereditary spherocytosis 20 (White)
Hereditary stomatocytosis 10
Enzymopathy G6PD deficiency 10,000 (Black)
Pyruvate kinase deficiency 5
Hexokinase deficiency Unknown
Other Wilson disease 3
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Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia 319
and summarized in Table 3. It is important to note that DAT should typically be per-
formed after the presence of hemolysis is determined and not in the reverse order.
A positive DAT only means the presence of antibody or complement on the surface
of RBCs and is not an evidence of hemolysis. Positive DAT without hemolysis can
occur in healthy people (incidental finding) and in certain clinical conditions such as
immunoglobulin administration, recent hematopoietic or solid organ transplantation,
as well as autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders.36
Markers of Hemolysis
Typical hemoglobin at presentation is between 7 and 10 g/dL, although values <7 g/dL
can be seen in as many as 30%.8 The anemia is usually normocytic but macrocytosis
can be seen due to reticulocytosis. Depending on co-occurring conditions some pa-
tients may have leukocytosis (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) or thrombocytopenia
(Evan’s syndrome). The reticulocyte count increases as the bone marrow increases
the production of RBCs to replace those that are lost. The absolute reticulocyte count
is the preferred method of measurement because it is unaffected by the hemoglobin
concentration. In one series, the mean corrected reticulocyte count was 7.4%.8 Non-
elevated reticulocyte counts can be seen in concomitant conditions that limit RBC
production (iron deficiency, underlying bone marrow disorder, drug effect) or
Table 3
Markers of hemolysis
A number of testing abnormalities can be seen in the presence of hemolysis. Direct markers of he-
molysis are laboratory abnormalities that correlate to the destruction of RBCs. The degree of ab-
normality may correlate with the location of hemolysis (ie, intravascular vs extravascular)
though the clinical utility is debatable. Indirect markers of hemolysis may act as surrogate markers
via reticulocytosis, increased RBC turnover, or heme metabolism.
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320 Scheckel & Go
autoantibodies against RBC precursors.8,37 The peripheral blood smear may reveal
spherocytes and reticulocytes. The absence of certain findings (schistocytes, target
cells) can be useful in the differential diagnosis in excluding other conditions.9,38
Haptoglobin is commonly low or unmeasurable regardless of whether the hemolytic
anemia is primarily intravascular or extravascular. In a series of 100 patients, a hapto-
globin less than 25 mg/dL had a sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 96%, and predictive
value of 87%.10,39 Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is typically increased with one series
reporting a median LDH of approximately 500 units/L.40 Indirect bilirubin elevations in
the range of 2 to 3 mg/dL are common.41 Aspartate transaminase (AST) is found primar-
ily in the heart, liver, skeletal muscle, red cells, and kidneys.42 Mild elevations in AST can
be seen in hemolysis, though the ratio of LDH/AST is typically over 30.43 Investigation
into AST/ALT ratio as a hemolytic marker in patients with sickle cell disease lacking car-
diac or hepatic dysfunction found an inverse relationship between hemoglobin and AST/
ALT ratio and positive correlation with reticulocytes and lactate dehydrogenase.44
Ferritin can be increased in several chronic hemolytic conditions including enzymo-
pathies, chronic cold agglutinin disease, and congenital dyserythropoietic ane-
mia.45–47 Ferritin is also an acute-phase protein and increases in various metabolic
and inflammatory and the coexistence of these conditions with hemolysis may lead
to elevated ferritin values. Longstanding transfusion support may also contribute to
iron overload. The soluble transferrin receptor is increased in hemolytic anemia but
may also reflect erythropoiesis rather than hemolysis and is also elevated in iron defi-
ciency anemia.47 Hemosiderinuria is typically associated with marked intravascular
hemolysis in excess of haptoglobin binding capacity. It is usually seen 3 to 4 days after
the onset of hemolysis and it can persist for several weeks after hemolysis cessation,
whereas hemoglobinuria quickly disappears.
Table 4
Evaluation: Hemolysis testing beyond the blood smear
When investigating the etiology of hemolysis, a broad differential must be considered. Depending
on the clinician’s index of suspicion, testing for autoimmune, acquired, or hereditary etiologies
may be required.
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Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia 321
SUMMARY
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