Acute peripheral pulmonary embolism attributed to autoimmune haemolytic anaemia: a case report

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
Jing XuFadong Chen

Abstract

PE (pulmonary embolism) is a life-threatening complication rarely seen in the AIHA (autoimmune haemolytic anaemia) patients. Herein we reported a rare and serious AIHA-PE patient characterised by extensive peripheral pulmonary embolism on CTPA. A 59-year-old woman presented to our ED (emergency department) complaining of acute chest pain and dyspnea. During her presentation in ED she experienced a sudden syncope and soon developed CA (cardiac arrest). Laboratory studies showed a increase of CK-MB,troponin T,myoglobin and D-dimer. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) showed no large central or segment pulmonary emboli but increased RV (right ventricle)size,enlarged main pulmonary artery and invisible peripheral pulmonary artery. She was diagnosed with acute PE and alteplase was delivered intravenously. After thrombolytic therapy she remained hypotension and developed worsening anaemia. Detailed examination for anaemia revealed AIHA. She was discharged in a stable condition after 5 weeks with methylprednisolone and warfarin. Hb, D-dimer and transthoracic echocardiography showed complete recovery at 3-months follow up. PE attributed to AIHA is characterized by subsegment and distal pulmonary artery embolism which is ea...Continue Reading

References

Jun 10, 2015·World Journal of Emergency Medicine·Jian-Ping Gao, Ke-Jing Ying
Jul 15, 2015·Autoimmunity Reviews·M Lecouffe-DespretsM Hamidou
Jan 16, 2016·BMJ Case Reports·Kevin Andrew WoodsonStephanie Halene
Dec 23, 2016·British Journal of Haematology·Quentin A HillUNKNOWN British Society for Haematology
Feb 13, 2017·The Medical Clinics of North America·Howard A Liebman, Ilene C Weitz
Nov 9, 2018·PloS One·Sylvain AudiaBernard Bonnotte

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anemia

Anemia develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. Anemia of inflammation (AI, also called anemia of chronic disease) is a common, typically normocytic, normochromic anemia that is caused by an underlying inflammatory disease. Here is the latest research on anemia.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) occurs when antibodies directed against the person's own red blood cells (RBCs) cause them to burst (lyse), leading to an insufficient number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in the circulation. Discover the latest research on AIHA here.