Sepsis-induced Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Case Report

Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine
Zach Edwards, Stephen DeMeo

Abstract

Sepsis commonly brings patients to the emergency department (ED). Patient outcomes can vary widely. In some cases, rare complications of sepsis such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia can occur. A 68-year-old female presented with sepsis secondary to infected nephrolithiasis. The patient had signs and symptoms consistent with hemolysis upon arrival to the ED. Her hemolysis progressively worsened over a two-day period leading to a diagnosis of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia. She responded well to treatment; however, her condition began to worsen due to a new infection caused by perforated colonic diverticula. The patient ultimately expired from complications of her perforated colonic diverticula. It is crucial that emergency physicians understand the risk factors, symptoms, pathophysiology, and treatment of this rare complication of sepsis so that favorable patient outcomes can be achieved.

References

Jan 15, 2014·Autoimmunity Reviews·Garrett F BassJoseph M Tuscano
Sep 26, 2015·Seminars in Hematology·Wilma Barcellini
Dec 24, 2015·Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy : Offizielles Organ Der Deutschen Gesellschaft Fur̈ Transfusionsmedizin Und Immunham̈atologie·Wilma Barcellini
Dec 4, 2016·Hematology·Theodosia A Kalfa
Nov 9, 2018·PloS One·Sylvain AudiaBernard Bonnotte
Dec 7, 2018·Hematology·Anita Hill, Quentin A Hill
Aug 15, 2019·The New England Journal of Medicine·Robert A Brodsky

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

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.

Related Papers

Clinical Laboratory Science : Journal of the American Society for Medical Technology
J C Roberts, G H Roberts
Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
Miklós EgyedImre Repa
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
W G Thompson
Geka chiryo. Surgical therapy
H IsogawaS Akai
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved