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Alternative names Return to top
Immune hemolytic anemia secondary to drugs; Anemia - immune hemolytic - secondary to drugsDefinition Return to top
Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia is an acquired form of hemolytic anemia caused by interaction of certain drugs with the immune system. The result is the production of antibodies against the red blood cells and premature red blood cell destruction.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia occurs when certain drugs start an immune reaction against red blood cells. In some instances, the drugs interact with the red blood cell membrane, causing the cell to become antigenic. This means the body identifies these cells as not belonging to the body. Antibodies form against the red blood cells. The antibodies attach to red blood cells and result in their premature destruction. This condition is rare in children.
Drugs that can cause immune hemolytic anemia include the following:
There are many other rarer causes of drug-induced hemolytic anemia. Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is most often associated with G6PD deficiency. However, G6PD deficiency and hemolysis is due to oxidative stress in the red cell, not an autoimmune phenomenon.
Symptoms Return to top
Signs and tests Return to top
A physical examination may show an enlarged spleen. Other tests may indicate drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia.Treatment Return to top
Discontinuation of the suspected causative drug may relieve or control the symptoms. Treatment with prednisone is the first additional therapy that may be tried.Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
The outcome is expected to be good. The process subsides when the offending agent is eliminated from the body.Complications Return to top
Calling your health care provider Return to top
See your health care provider any time that dark urine and jaundice occur, particularly if other symptoms also develop after taking a medication.Prevention Return to top
If the disorder occurs, the individual should avoid the offending drug and its analogues (similar medications) in the future. Update Date: 8/18/2003 Updated by: Corey Cutler, M.D., M.P.H., F.R.C.P.C., Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Instructor in Medicine, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |