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Disease Profile

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Prevalence
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.

17/100,000

56,270

US Estimated

87,295

Europe Estimated

Age of onset

All ages

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ICD-10

D59.0 D59.1

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant A pathogenic variant in only one gene copy in each cell is sufficient to cause an autosomal dominant disease.

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Autosomal recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of each gene of the chromosome are needed to cause an autosomal recessive disease and observe the mutant phenotype.

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X-linked
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.

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X-linked
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.

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Mitochondrial or multigenic Mitochondrial genetic disorders can be caused by changes (mutations) in either the mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA that lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria and inadequate production of energy.

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Multigenic or multifactor Inheritance involving many factors, of which at least one is genetic but none is of overwhelming importance, as in the causation of a disease by multiple genetic and environmental factors.

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Not applicable

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Other names (AKA)

Anemia hemolytic autoimmune; Acquired autoimmune hemolytic anemia; Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia;

Categories

Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory diseases

Summary

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) occurs when your immune system makes antibodies that attack your red blood cells. This causes a drop in the number of red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia.[1][2][3][4] Symptoms may include unusual weakness and fatigue with tachycardia and breathing difficulties, jaundice, dark urine and/or splenomegaly. AIHA can be primary (idiopathic) or result from an underlying disease or medication.[2] The condition may develop gradually or occur suddenly. There are two main types of autoimmune hemolytic anemia: warm antibody hemolytic anemia and cold antibody hemolytic anemia.[2][3][4] Treatment may include corticosteroids such as prednisone, splenectomy, immunosuppressive drugs and/or blood transfusions.[3]

Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal leukocyte morphology
0001881
Autoimmunity
Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disorder

[ more ]

0002960
Dyspnea
Trouble breathing
0002094
Fatigue
Tired
Tiredness

[ more ]

0012378
Headache
Headaches
0002315
Hemolytic anemia
0001878
Muscle weakness
Muscular weakness
0001324
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Immunodeficiency
Decreased immune function
0002721
Lymphoma
Cancer of lymphatic system
0002665
Pallor
0000980
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain

[ more ]

0002027
Abnormal urinary color
Abnormal urinary colour
Abnormal urine color

[ more ]

0012086
Arrhythmia
Abnormal heart rate
Heart rhythm disorders
Irregular heart beat
Irregular heartbeat

[ more ]

0011675
Congestive heart failure
Cardiac failure
Cardiac failures
Heart failure

[ more ]

0001635
Fever
0001945
Splenomegaly
Increased spleen size
0001744
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Abnormality of metabolism/homeostasis
Laboratory abnormality
Metabolism abnormality

[ more ]

0001939
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
0001890
Autosomal recessive inheritance
0000007

Cause

In about half of cases, the cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia cannot be determined (idiopathic or primary). This condition can also be caused by or occur with another disorder (secondary) or rarely, occur following the use of certain drugs (such as penicillin) or after a person has a blood and marrow stem cell transplant.[2][3][4] Secondary causes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia include:[2][4] 

Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

    Organizations Providing General Support

      Learn more

      These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

      Where to Start

      • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
      • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition for patients and caregivers.
      • The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has information on this topic. NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health and supports research, training, and education for the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, and blood diseases.
      • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

        In-Depth Information

        • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
        • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
        • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
        • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

          References

          1. Gersten T. Immune hemolytic anemia. MedlinePlus. February 24, 2014; https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000576.htm.
          2. Michel M. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Orphanet. August 2010; https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/Disease_Search.php?lng=EN&data_id=13392.
          3. Lichtin AE. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. Merck Manual. 2016; https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/blood-disorders/anemia/autoimmune-hemolytic-anemia.
          4. Hemolytic Anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/hemolytic-anemia. Accessed 12/26/2017.
          5. ANEMIA, AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). November 12, 1995; https://www.omim.org/entry/205700.

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