Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

The immune system consists of a defense system that protects you from infectious diseases and other diseases. Traditionally in healthy people, the immune system has the ability to distinguish between its own cells and cells that represent a threat to physical health. (Craft and Kanter, 2002). Autoimmune disease is the result of the body's ability to recognize its own cells from foreign cells and cause it to respond to itself.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a disease in which autoantibodies target the body's own red blood cells (1). This is relatively uncommon, but it is not uncommon. It is estimated that there are 1 to 3 cases per 100,000 people a year (1). There are three types of AIHAs depending on the activation temperature of autoantibodies, hot AIHA, cold AIHA and mixed AIHA, warm AIHA being most common (> 70%) followed by cold AIHA (about 20%) And mixing type occurs at least. (2) AIHA is further categorized according to the age of the patient with the disease, ie pediatric AIHA and adult AIHA. Pediatric AIHA is derived from the age group of 1-16 years (or 18 years), and in most cases there are no potential causes (2). Adult AIHA is over 18 years of age and is mainly associated with fundamental specific primary disease. Sometimes AIHA is caused by the administration of certain drugs called drug-induced AIHA.

It is the most common type of AIHA. The warm autoantibody is usually IgG. Because this antibody shows peak activity at 37 ° C, this is called warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. IgG binds efficiently to the FC receptor of phagocytic cells. Therefore, destruction of erythrocytes is mainly caused by phagocytosis. IgG may or may not complement complement. Hemolysis of erythrocytes also occurs in the spleen. WAIHA may be idiopathic. In other words, there are no secondary diseases, or lymphoproliferative disorders, autoimmune diseases, viral infections, immunodeficiencies or anything secondary to it (1) (2) (3) (6)