Splenectomy as Treatment for Primary Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (wAIHA)

Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (wAIHA) occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly produces antibodies that attack and destroy its own red blood cells.

In this particular case, the patient presented a unique challenge, as he did not respond to standard first- and second-line treatments. During a prolonged 42-day hospitalization, the patient underwent over 90 blood transfusions and was treated with various steroids and immunotherapies. Eventually, the patient received a splenectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of the spleen, which resulted in a noticeable improvement in their condition within hours.

Recently, splenectomy has been reclassified as a third-line treatment option for wAIHA, and there is a lack of clear guidelines regarding the optimal timing for this intervention within the disease’s progression. This case report underscores that splenectomy remains a critical and effective therapeutic option for severe and refractory cases of wAIHA.

For further information, please refer to the clinical case study entitled, “Severe, Refractory Primary Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Requiring 90 Erythrocyte Transfusions.”

Source: Yale School of Medicine