T HE pathogenetic mechanisms of the excessive hemolysis that occurs in both familial and acquired cases of hemolytic anemia continue to be the subject of much discussion and investigation. Several theories have been advanced to explain these processes, in which spherocytosis of the red cells commonly occurs. In 1938, Dameshek and Schwartz’ first demonstrated that the spherocyte was not necessar...

1. Pediatricians and other general practitioners may not be aware of the significance of central nervous system disease in children who have sickle cell disease, particularly the more subtle silent infarct. 2. Pediatricians frequently fail to order a reticulocyte count or detect splenomegaly on physical examination before referring a patient with anemia. These findings are critical to diagnosin...

Hemolysis presents as acute or chronic anemia, reticulocytosis, or jaundice. The diagnosis is established by reticulocytosis, increased unconjugated bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase, decreased haptoglobin, and peripheral blood smear findings. Premature destruction of erythrocytes occurs intravascularly or extravascularly. The etiologies of hemolysis often are categorized as acquired or hered...

Autoimmune phenomena, most frequently autoimmune hemolytic anemia, is a well-known complication of lymphoproliferative diseases. We report a very rare association of a chronic lymphocytic leukemia with an acquired factor XI inhibitor. A 87-year-old man presented with auto-immune hemolytic anemia. He had untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia for the past three years and renal insufficiency. Bef...

velopment of azathioprine ( Imuran ) , a derivative of 6-mercaptopurine. The efficacy of purine antagonists has been proved in clinical trials by suppression of homograft rejection and autoimmune diseases, particularly autoimmune hemolytic anemia/LlT Several publications deal with the application of this treatment to adults, ’4’1 #{176}’17 but to the best of our knowledge this is the first comm...

Since both acquired factor VIII inhibitor in non-hemophiliac patients and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia are uncommon disorders with no case-controlled trials, managing these diseases can be challenging. We present a case of a 75-year-old man in whom both diseases were present simultaneously with life-threatening bleeding. This case is an example of the successful initial management and long-...