Auto-Immune Hemolytic anaemia

AIHA or Autoimmune hemolytic anaemia is a very rare immune disorder and red blood cell disorder that occurs when the body starts to build antibodies that eliminate red blood cells. The lifetime of the red blood cells reduces from the normal 100 to 120 days to just a very few days in serious cases or the last stages. Intracellular portions of components of red blood cells are concentrated in the circulating blood and then in tissues, which results in some of the features of symptoms of these conditions. In this article, we will tell you about AIHA anaemia,  autoimmune hemolytic anaemia treatment,  and autoimmune hemolytic anaemia symptoms.

What is AIHA anaemia?

AIHA is also abbreviated as autoimmune hemolytic anaemia, a very rare immune disorder that occurs in the body when the red blood cells start getting eradicated. The antibodies are used directed against the high relative incidence of antigens. Therefore they are most generally at as allogeneic red blood cells. These are the red blood cells that originated from outside of the individual themselves in the scenario of blood transfusion. AHIA anaemia is a rare condition, With 5 to 10 cases per 1 million individuals per year and warm antibodies type 0.45 to 1.9 cases per million individuals per year in the cold antibody type.

The AIHA anaemia mistakes the red blood cells for unwanted portions or substances and attacks them resulting in dying early, leaving the person without enough RBCs or red blood cells. In children, AIHA anaemia is temporary, but in some adults, AIHA anaemia can last long and can often return. 

AIHA anaemia can develop over time and rapidly.

Types of AIHA anaemia

Autoimmune hemolytic anaemia is classified into various two types, namely:

• Primary AIHA anaemia is the anaemia that occurs by itself
• Secondary AIHA anaemia is a type of anaemia that strikes you because you have additional illnesses.

This very rare disease is also categorized by the temperature at which the red blood cells are harmed:

• Warm Antibody Hemolytic anaemia: This immune response occurs at the normal body temperature or sometimes above the normal body temperature.
• Cold Antibody Hemolytic anaemia: The red blood cells are damaged or destroyed when an individual is uncovered or exposed to a cold.

Autoimmune Hemolytic anaemia Symptoms

The symptoms of AIHA anaemia may be due to the reason:

• Fatigue
• Dyspnoea or shortness of breath
• Muscle pallor and weakness
• Headache
• Chills
• Fastening of heartbeat
• Yellow skin or pale skin
• Chest pain
• Jaundice 
• Dark urine
• A sensation of abdominal fullness related to an increased spleen 

These symptoms also vary depending on the type of AIHA  anaemia individuals have.  With the cold antibody, hemolytic type anaemia and an individual may notice:

• Cold feet and hands
• Headache
• Reddish or bluish colour in feet and hands 
• Pain in legs and back
• Problem indigestion

Signs of hemolysis that exist in AIHA anaemia consist:

• Low blood count or haemoglobin
• Modification or alteration  and levels of cell markers of hemolysis
• Reticulocytosis
• Increase in circulating immature red blood cells 

Causes of AIHA anaemia

Generally, the causes of AIHA anaemia are poorly comprehended. This disease may be classified as a primary or secondary illness. The primary in lenses is idiopathic, which accounts for more than off of unselected cases, around 60%.

On the other hand, secondary AIHA anaemia can result in various illnesses. The cold and warm types of AIHA anaemia have personal, more typical secondary causes. The most familiar causes of secondary warm type AIHA anaemia  consist of  lymphoproliferative disorders such as:

• Lymphoma
• Chronic White blood cell leukaemia

Various autoimmune anaemia disorders such as:

• Systemic lupus erythroderma
• Crohn’s disease
• Ulcerative colitis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

The most common secondary warm type of  AIHA anaemia observed is COVID-19.

The secondary causes of  AIHA anaemia or autoimmune hemolytic anaemia consist of:

• Lupus, an autoimmune disease 
• Chronic White blood cell leukaemia
• Blood cancer
• Hepatitis
• Epstein-Barr virus
• HIV
• Mycoplasma pneumonia

Autoimmune Hemolytic anaemia Treatment

If you think you have any AIHA anaemia, you should consult a doctor.  A doctor may generally refer you to a haematologist (a doctor specializing in blood diseases).

For example, suppose you have AIHA anaemia disease like lupus. The doctor will try to examine or treat you first. If your AIHA anaemia is mild, then you may not require treatment.

The Doctors usually prescribe steroids such as:

• Prednisone
• Hydrocortisone

From these to steroids, the immune system of an individual stops from attacking their red blood cells. An individual may also need surgery to eradicate the spleen or blood transfusion in severe cases.

Medicines prescribed:

• Cytoxan
• Imuran

Conclusion

AIHA is also abbreviated as autoimmune hemolytic anaemia, a very rare immune disorder that occurs in the body when the red blood cells start getting eradicated. The antibodies are used directed against the high relative incidence of antigens. Therefore they are most generally at as allogeneic red blood cells. These are the red blood cells that originated from outside of the individual themselves in the scenario of blood transfusion. The symptoms of AIHA anaemia may be Fatigue, Dyspnoea or shortness of breath, Muscle pallor and weakness, Headache, and Chills.