Profile of Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia: Analysis of 10 Years Data from a Hematology Center in Eastern India

Aims: To study the Clinico-haematological profile and therapy outcome of patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA)

Study Design: Retrospective analysis through the case records of 69 patient treated at the Department of Hematology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata over a period of 10 years from January 2011 to December 2020.

Methodology: Clinico-haematological profile including baseline characteristics and therapy outcome of patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) were noted. Presenting symptoms, clinical spectrum, response to therapy and events (relapse, death, dropouts and refractory disease) was analyzed by standard statistical methods.

Results: This study identified 69 (primary-56 and secondary-13) consecutive patients were with a median age of 49 years. The common presentations included pallor (98.5%) and jaundice (84.5%) with the presence of splenomegaly (56.5%) and hepatomegaly (47.2%). Direct antiglobulin test was negative in two patients. Oral prednisolone produced remission in 91.04% patients with a median response duration of 28 days. Among responders, 28 patients relapsed after a median period of 269.2 weeks. The relapsed patients received steroid in most patients. Azathioprine, Rituximab and Splenectomy were given in eight, six and two patients respectively with a overall response rate of 62.65%, 66.6% and 100 % respectively.

Conclusion: Kknowledge of clinical and laboratory profile in AIHA help in directing the investigations and HAS effect on the therapy decisions. With the plethora of drugs available as therapeutic options in primary AIHA, steroid still remains the cornerstone of therapy.