Clinical Profile and Outcome of Childhood Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Single Center Study

Objective To analyze clinical and laboratory parameters, and treatment outcomes of children with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Methods Retrospective analysis of 50 children aged 0–18 years. Monospecific direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and investigations for secondary causes were performed. Disease status was categorized based on Cerevance criteria. Results Median (range) age at diagnosis was 36 (1.5–204) months. AIHA was categorized as cold (IgM+,C3+/cold agglutinin+) (35%), warm (IgG+ with/without C3+) (28%), mixed (IgG+, IgM+, C3+) (15%) and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (4%). Primary AIHA accounted for 64% cases. Treatment modalities included steroid (66%), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (4%), steroid+IVIg (4%), and steroid+rituximab (4%). Treatment duration was longer for secondary AIHA than primary (11 vs 6.6 months, P