Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia by cold antibodies: a systemic lupus erythematosus case

Abstract

Cold antibody-mediated autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is rarely associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. A 35-year-old woman was admitted with one week of progressive asthenia, right pleuritic pain and a nonproductive cough history. Macrocytic anaemia of autoimmune aetiology was noticed with self-aggregation at room temperature. The patient revealed a positive clinical and analytical response to systemic corticosteroid therapy and blood transfusion support. An acute pulmonary thromboembolism was diagnosed on computed tomography, and the serologies were positive for anti-glycoprotein, lupus anticoagulant, anti-cardiolipin, antinuclear, SSA and thyroid antibodies. Systemic lupus erythematosus associated with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia mediated by cold antibodies associated with probable antiphospholipid syndrome was diagnosed, a rare situation described through a literature review.