Anemia, Hemolytic, Acquired Autoimmune

Synonyms

• Immune Hemolytic Anemia
• Anemia, Idiopathic Autoimmune Hemolytic
• Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
• Idiopathic Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Disorder Subdivisions

• Anemia, Warm Antibody Hemolytic
• Anemia, Cold Antibody Hemolytic

General Discussion

The autoimmune hemolytic anemias are rare disorders characterized by the premature destruction (hemolysis) of red blood cells at a rate faster than they can be replaced. Acquired hemolytic anemias are non-genetic in origin. Idiopathic acquired autoimmune diseases occur when the body's natural defenses against invading organisms (e.g., lymphocytes, antibodies) destroy its own healthy tissues for no known reason. Normally, the red blood cells (erythrocytes) have a life span of approximately 120 days before being removed by the spleen. The severity of this type of anemia is determined by the life span of the red blood cell and by the rate at which these cells are replaced by the bone marrow.

Clinicians are able to determine quite accurately (Coombs test) whether or not red blood cells are carrying with them chemicals that are being incorrectly recognized as an "enemy" and therefore subject to autoimmune destruction.

Acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a disorder that occurs in individuals who previously had a normal red blood cell system. The disorder may occur as the result of, or in conjunction with, some other medical condition, in which case it is "secondary" to another disorder. Less commonly, it occurs alone without a precipitating factor.

Acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia occurs in different forms, including warm antibody hemolytic anemia and cold antibody hemolytic anemia.

In warm antibody hemolytic anemia, the self-generated antibodies (autoantibodies) attach themselves and cause the destruction of the red blood cells at temperatures above normal body temperature. In contrast, in the cases of cold antibody hemolytic anemia, the self-generated antibodies (autoantibodies) attach themselves and cause the destruction of the red blood cells at temperatures below normal body temperature. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Warm Antibody Hemolytic Anemia" and/or Cold Antibody Hemolytic Anemia as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.)

Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
Tel: (914)428-7100
Fax: (914)997-4763
Tel: (888)663-4637
Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com
Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe, MI 48021-2227
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: aarda@aarda.org
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/

NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Tel: (301)592-8573
Fax: (301)251-1223
Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov

Autoimmune Information Network, Inc
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Tel: (732)262-0450
Fax: (732)262-0450
Email: autoimmunehelp@aol.com
Internet: http://www.aininc.org

European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID)
c/o Dr. Esther de Vries
Jeroen Bosch Hospital
Dept. Paediatrics
P.O. Box 90153
Hertogenbosch, 5200 ME's
Netherlands
Tel: +31 73-6992965
Fax: +31 73-6992948
Email: info@esid.org
Internet: http://www.esid.org

Cold Agglutinin Disease E-Support
c/o Betty Usdan
146 Greens Rd.
Hollywood, FL 33021
Tel: (954)961-2703
Fax: (954)961-2703
Internet: http://www.coldagglutinindisease.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 10/12/2004
Copyright 1990, 2004 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.