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Background: Cold agglutinin syndrome (CAS) is a hemolytic anemia mediated by antibodies, mainly IgM, whose maximum activity occurs at 4 °C. It happens secondary to infectious, autoimmune or neoplastic diseases, due to the formation of antibodies that cross-react against erythrocyte antigens, particularly of the I system. Here, we describe a case of CAS associated to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in a patient with primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Clinical case: 22-year old man with no medical history, hospitalized due to mononucleosis and anemic syndrome. Hemoglobin of 3.7 g/dL and elevation of lactate dehydrogenase were documented. In the peripheral blood smear it was observed spherocytosis, polychromasia and nucleated erythrocytes. EBV infection was confirmed with serology and viral load, as well as seronegative HIV infection with positive viral load. The C3d monospecific direct antiglobulin test was positive and an irregular antibody screening revealed the presence of an anti-I antibody. The patient received transfusion support and conservative treatment, with remission of the symptoms 2 weeks after admission. Conclusions: Cold agglutinin syndrome is a rare, potentially fatal complication of infectious mononucleosis, which should be considered in the face of findings suggestive of hemolysis in order to initiate support measures in a timely manner.

Introducción: el síndrome por aglutininas frías (SAF) es una anemia hemolítica mediada por anticuerpos principalmente de tipo IgM, cuya máxima actividad se da a 4 °C. Se presenta en el contexto de enfermedades infecciosas, autoinmunes o neoplásicas por la formación de anticuerpos que tienen reacción cruzada contra antígenos eritrocitarios, particularmente del sistema I. En este trabajo presentamos un caso de SAF asociado a reactivación del virus de Epstein-Barr (VEB) en un paciente con primoinfección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Caso clínico: hombre de 22 años, sin antecedentes patológicos, hospitalizado por síndrome mononucleósico y anémico. Presentó hemoglobina de 3.7 g/dL y elevación de lactato deshidrogenasa. En el frotis de sangre periférica se observó esferocitosis, policromasia y eritrocitos nucleados. Se confirmó infección por VEB con serología y carga viral, así como infección por VIH seronegativa, con carga viral positiva. La prueba de antiglobulina directa monoespecífica a C3d fue positiva y el rastreo de anticuerpos irregulares demostró un anticuerpo anti-I. El paciente recibió soporte transfusional y tratamiento conservador, con remisión del cuadro a las 2 semanas de su ingreso. Conclusiones: el SAF es una complicación poco frecuente de la mononucleosis infecciosa, potencialmente mortal, la cual debe ser considerada ante hallazgos sugestivos de hemólisis con la finalidad de iniciar medidas de soporte de forma oportuna.

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BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, has a higher incidence among indigenous people. Albeit uncommon, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) has been deemed a risk condition to develop mycobacterial infection, as a result of the immunosuppressive treatments. TB, in turn, can be a predisposing factor for secondary infections. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present a case of a 28-year-old indigenous woman from Colombia, previously diagnosed with AIHA and pulmonary TB. Despite various treatments, therapies and medical interventions, the patient died after severe medullary aplasia of multiple causes, including secondary myelotoxicity by immunosuppressive therapy and secondary disseminated infections, underlining infection by Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida glabrata, which were identified as drug-resistant microorganisms. Together, this led to significant clinical complications. Invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed at autopsy. CONCLUSIONS: This report presents a rarely finding of AIHA followed by TB, and highlights the great challenges of dealing with co-infections, particularly by drug resistant pathogens. It also aims to spur governments and public health authorities to focus attention in the prevention, screening and management of TB, especially among vulnerable communities, such as indigenous people.

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A leucemia mieloide crônica é uma neoplasia mieloproliferativa clonal ocasionado, em 95% dos casos, pela translocação recíproca do cromossomo 9 e 22 (cromossomo Philadelphia), gerando um gene de fusão (BCR-ABL', que promove aumento da atividade da enzima tirosina kinase, levando assim, ao aumento da produção de granulócitos maduros e em maturação. O principal tratar-ento desta comorbidade é uso de drogas que inibem a atividade dessa enzima :mpedindo a proliferação celular, chamados inibidores de tirosina kinase, sendo o mes"ato de imatinibe uma dessas drogas. Efeitos colaterais leves devido ao uso do mesilato de imatinibe foram relatados em literatura, como citopenias, edemas e efeitos gastrointestinais, sendo a anemia hemolítica autoimune um evento raro com poucos relatos em literatura. A anemia hemolítica autoimune é uma patologia que surge quando anticorpos se contra as hemácias do indivíduo, e podem ser induzidas pelo uso de alguns medicamentos (anemia hemolítica autoimune induzida por drogas), dentre eles, o nesilato de imatinibe. O principal tratamento da anemia hemolítica autoimune Induzida por drogas é a suspensão da medicação. O presente estudo visa relatar um caso raro de anemia hemolítica autoimune induzida pelo uso de imatinibe no "atamento de leucemia mieloide crônica. Como conclusão, oferece evidênc:as c:rnicas dessa associação

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm caused, in 95% of cases, by the reciprocal translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22 (Philadelphia chromosome), generating a fusion gene (BCR-ABL) that promotes increased activity of the tyrosine kinase enzyme, thus leading to increased production of mature and maturing granulocytes. The main treatment for this comorbidity is the use of drugs that Inhibit the activity of this enzyme, preventing cellular control, called tyrosine kinase inhibitors, with imatinib mesylate being one of these drugs. Mild side effects due to the use of imatinib mesylate have been reported in the literature, such as cytopenias, edema and gastrointestinal effects, with autoimmune hemolytic anemia being a rare event with few reports In the literature. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a pathology that arises when antibodies are directed against the individual's red blood cells, and can be caused by the use of some medications (autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by drugs), including imatinib mesylate. The main treatment for autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by drugs is stopping the medication. The present study aims to report a rare case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by the use of imatinib in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia. In conclusion, it offers clinical evidence of this association

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BACKGROUND: RBC alloimmunization remains a significant problem for many patients with SCD. To reduce alloimmunization some strategies have been implemented to provide limited or extended antigen matched RBC transfusions to patients with SCD who need chronic transfusion support. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prophylactic RBC transfusion with extended antigen matching on alloimmunization in patients with SCD. METHODS: This is a 20-year retrospective study of patients with SCD transfused with RBCS that were prospectively matched for D, C, c, E, e, K, Fya/Fyb, Jka/Jkb and S antigens. Our study included 95 patients, and none had antibodies documented before their first transfusion. Patients and donors were phenotyped and molecular typing was performed in all patients who had recent transfusions or a positive direct antiglobulin test to predict their antigen profile. Unexpected antibodies to the Rh system, meaning anti-Rh antibodies in patients whose serologic phenotype was Rh positive, were investigated by molecular genotyping for RH variant alleles. RESULTS: During this study-period, 12 (12.6%) were alloimmunized and 83 (87.4%) were not. Among the 12 patients who alloimmunized, 7 (58.3%) developed antibodies to Rh antigens and 5 (41.7%) produced antibodies to low prevalence antigens. All patients who developed Rh antibodies had RH variant alleles. Autoantibodies were found in 16 (16.8%) transfused patients. CONCLUSION: SCD patients benefit from receiving prophylactic RBC transfusions with extended antigen matching, as demonstrated by the reduction on the rates of alloimmunization and the lack of antibodies to K, FY, JK and S antigens, however, this strategy does not avoid alloimmunization to Rh and low-prevalence antigens.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictors of the occurrence of severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and its impact on damage accrual and mortality in SLE patients. METHODS: Factors associated with time to severe AIHA (hemoglobin level ≤7 g/dL) occurring from the onset of SLE symptoms were examined by Cox proportional hazards regressions. The association of severe AIHA with mortality was examined by logistic regression analyses while its impact on damage was by negative binomial regression. RESULTS: Of 1,349 patients, 49 (3.6%) developed severe AIHA over a mean (SD) follow-up time of 5.4 (3.8) years. The median time from the first clinical manifestation to severe AIHA was 111 days (IQR 43-450). By multivariable analysis, male sex (HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.02-4.75, p = 0.044), and higher disease activity at diagnosis (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, p = 0.025) were associated with a shorter time to severe AIHA occurrence. Of the SLEDAI descriptors, only hematologic (leukopenia and/or thrombocytopenia) showed a certain trend toward significance in the multivariable analysis (HR 2.36, 95% CI 0.91-6.13, p = 0.0772). Severe AIHA contributed neither to damage nor to mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Severe AIHA occurs during the early course of SLE. Male sex and higher disease activity at diagnosis emerged as independent predictors of a shorter time to severe AIHA occurrence. Although not statistically significant, hematological abnormalities at SLE diagnosis could predict the occurrence of severe AIHA in a shorter time. Damage and mortality did not seem to be impacted by the occurrence of severe AIHA.

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Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is a rare clinical condition with immunoglobulin fixation on the surface of erythrocytes, with or without complement activation. The pathophysiology of AIHA is complex and multifactorial, presenting functional abnormalities of T and B lymphocytes that generate an imbalance between lymphocyte activation, immunotolerance and cytokine production that culminates in autoimmune haemolysis. In AIHA, further laboratory data are needed to predict relapse and refractoriness of therapy, and thus, prevent adverse side-effects and treatment-induced toxicity. The metabolomic profile of AIHA has not yet been described. Our group developed a cross-sectional study with follow-up to assess the metabolomic profile in these patients, as well as to compare the metabolites found depending on the activity and intensity of haemolysis. We analysed the plasma of 26 patients with primary warm AIHA compared to 150 healthy individuals by mass spectrometry. Of the 95 metabolites found in the patients with AIHA, four acylcarnitines, two phosphatidylcholines (PC), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and three sphingomyelins were significantly increased. There was an increase in PC, spermine and spermidine in the AIHA group with haemolytic activity. The PC ae 34:3/PC ae 40:2 ratio, seen only in the 12-month relapse group, was a predictor of relapse with 81% specificity and 100% sensitivity. Increased sphingomyelin, ADMA, PC and polyamines in patients with warm AIHA can interfere in autoantigen and autoimmune recognition mechanisms in a number of ways (deficient action of regulatory T lymphocytes on erythrocyte recognition as self, negative regulation of macrophage nuclear factor kappa beta activity, perpetuation of effector T lymphocyte and antibody production against erythrocyte antigens). The presence of PC ae 34:3/PC ae 40:2 ratio as a relapse predictor can help in identifying cases that require more frequent follow-up or early second-line therapies.

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Abstract Introduction Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is an autoimmune disorder that can present in primary or secondary forms. The literature looking at impact of baseline fluorescent antinuclear antibody (FANA) positivity on outcomes of AIHA patients is infrequent. Objective To study the impact of baseline FANA positivity in patients with primary AIHA. Method A prospective cohort study involving 29 consecutive primary AIHA patients presenting to the Haematology department from 2013 to 2015 was analysed. After recording baseline investigations including fluorescent ANA, all patients were treated as per the standard therapeutic protocols. Clinical remission, disease free survival, relapse, mortality were compared between the FANA positive and FANA Negative AIHA groups. Results Baseline FANA positivity was found in 17 patients (58.62%). Both the groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, Hemoglobin, LDH at presentation, number of lines of treatment needed and duration of follow up. Evan's syndrome was seen in six of FANA positive patients which was statistically significant (0 v/s 6, p= 0.023). FANA positive patients had significantly higher rates of relapse per patient month follow up (1.22 v/s 3.57, p= 0.023) and lower rates of complete response (83.33% v/s 35.29%, p= 0.0118) and relapse free survival at five years. Morbidity and mortality were numerically higher in FANA positive patients. Conclusion Baseline FANA positivity among AIHA patients was found to be associated with lower complete response rates and higher relapse rates with possible higher rates of morbidity. Presence of FANA will give us prognostic value and help us in deciding the treatment options.

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Introducción: El síndrome de Evans es un desorden autoinmune poco frecuente, caracterizado por el descenso de al menos dos líneas celulares hemáticas. Las publicaciones del síndrome de Evans e infección por citomegalovirus resultan escasas. Objetivo: Examinar el caso de una niña con síndrome de Evans e infección activa por citomegalovirus que respondió favorablemente a la terapia antiviral. Presentación del caso: Niña de 13 meses con antecedentes de prematuridad y bajo peso al nacer, que acudió a consulta por presentar palidez y equimosis en tórax, abdomen y extremidades. En los exámenes de laboratorio se encontró trombocitopenia y anemia severa con prueba de Coombs directo positiva. Recibió pulsos de metilprednisolona con respuesta desfavorable. La carga viral resultó positiva para citomegalovirus (4019 copias de ADN) y recibió valganciclovir con evolución favorable en el seguimiento. Conclusiones: El síndrome de Evans asociado a infección por CMV es infrecuente. El tratamiento con valganciclovir podría ser beneficioso para cierto grupo de pacientes; sin embargo, hacen falta más estudios que demuestren la eficacia y seguridad de este tratamiento en este síndrome; más aún si está asociado a una elevada carga viral(AU)

Introduction: Evans syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder, characterized by the descent of at least two blood cell lines. Publications of Evans syndrome and cytomegalovirus infection are scarce. Objective: To examine the case of a girl with Evans syndrome and active cytomegalovirus infection who responded favorably to antiviral therapy. Case presentation: A 13-month-old girl with a history of prematurity and low birth weight, who attended the consultation for presenting pallor and ecchymosis in the thorax, abdomen and extremities. Laboratory tests found thrombocytopenia and severe anemia after a positive direct Coombs test. She received pulses of methylprednisolone with unfavorable response. The viral load was positive for cytomegalovirus (4019 copies of DNA) and received valganciclovir with favorable evolution at follow-up. Conclusions: Evans syndrome associated with CMV infection is uncommon. Treatment with valganciclovir may be beneficial for a certain group of patients. However, more studies are needed to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of this treatment in this syndrome; even more so if it is associated with a high viral load(AU)

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