blood disorders
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Treatment of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Transfusion Corticosteroids Sometimes splenectomy For paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, avoiding the cold Sometimes immunosuppressants When red blood cell destruction is severe, Overview of Blood Transfusion are needed. A blood transfusion should never be withheld for life-threatening anemia due to the presence of "incompatible" blood. However, transfusions do not treat the cause of the anemia and provide only temporary relief. A corticosteroid such asprednisoneis usually the first choice for treatment for warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. High doses are used at first, followed by a gradual reduction of the dose over many weeks or months. When people do not respond to corticosteroids or when the corticosteroid causes intolerable side effects, use of a drug calledrituximabor surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy) is often the next treatment. The spleen is removed because it is the primary place where antibody-coated red blood cells are destroyed. When destruction of red blood cells persists after removal of the spleen or when surgery cannot be done, immunosuppressants, such ascyclosporine, are used. Cold hemolytic anemia is usually managed by avoidance of symptomatic triggers, or by treating the causative underlying disorder, such as lymphoma. In severe cases, plasmapheresis ( Plasma exchange ) can be used to remove the offending antibody. 