Title: A Rare Case of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as a Presenting Complaint of HIV Infection
Authors: Vikas Kumar Gupta, Pratibha Prasad, Shyam Sundar
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i2.96
Abstract
HIV patients commonly suffer from haematological complications and it can be because of infection per se or secondary to opportunistic infections and antiretroviral therapy. However overt autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is rare although anemia and a positive direct anti-globulin test are each frequently observed in HIV infection. We report a rare case of recently diagnosed HIV infected asymptomatic patient with severe warm type autoimmune hemolytic anemia as a presenting complaint, very few reported from India.The clinical and hematological features were suggestive of autoimmune hemolytic anemia. He was treated with oral prednisolone (1mg/kg/day) and was transfused with 2 unit of packed RBC. At a follow-up visit, he had normal hemogram and liver function test. This case highlights the uncommon presentation of HIV syndrome and illustrates the importance of checking HIV status in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Keywords: AIHA (Autoimmune hemolytic anemia), HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), direct antiglobulin test (DAT).
