Auto immune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is a disease process where by the bodies own immune cells start destroying the red blood cells. The condition is fatal if not controlled. Therapy is based on suppressing the bodies immune system with cortisone type drugs or if they are not successful using powerful cytotoxic drugs like the chemotherapy drugs used with cancers.
The cause of AIHA is varied with viruses, some drugs being implicated. However the majority of cases we see it is impossible to find the cause
Evidence of Haemolytic anaemia include nucleated red blood cells which indicate the body is rushing to replace those cells being lost and spherocytes which lack the central pale area because of the action of antibodies on them. There is often also an increase in the level of white cells.
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