Autoimmune hemolytic anemia as presenting manifestation of primary splenic anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Turk J Pediatr. 2006 Oct-Dec;48(4):354-6.

Abstract

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an unusual complication of malignancy. We diagnosed primary splenic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in a patient. A seven-year-old boy presented with Coombs test-positive hemolytic anemia. After a course of prednisolone therapy, a complete response for anemia was achieved. Twenty months later, in addition to severe hemolytic anemia, the patient was diagnosed with ALCL after splenectomy and pathologic examination of the sample. The recognition of this clinical picture as a complication of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has important implications. The most effective management of AIHA in the setting of cancer is to treat the underlying malignancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / drug therapy
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / etiology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Daunorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / complications*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / diagnosis
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / mortality
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use
  • Methylprednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Splenectomy
  • Splenic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Splenic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Splenic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Splenic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Splenic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Splenomegaly / diagnosis
  • Splenomegaly / surgery
  • Time Factors
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Vincristine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisone
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Methotrexate
  • Daunorubicin

Supplementary concepts

  • LSA2-L2 protocol