Autoimmune hemolytic anemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: report of one case and review of literature

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment experiences of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods The clinical data of the patient with AIHA after allogeneic HSCT in Hematology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University was analyzed, and the literatures were reviewed. Results After receiving 2 years of allo-HSCT, one young male patient with severe aplastic anemia showed AIHA in the absence of obvious incentives. The patient healed with the treatments of glucocorticoid, intravenous injection of gamma globulin, plasma exchange combined with injection of CD20 monoclonal antibody. Through the literature review, it showed that AIHA patients after HSCT had a good response to regimens containing rituximab, while adult and malignant patients with post-HSCT AIHA had a higher mortality. Poor response to rituximab was one of the greatest risk factors for poor prognosis. Conclusion AIHA is not sensitive to hormone with a low treatment response, which is a risk factor for the increased mortality of allo-HSCT patients. Key words: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Anemia, hemolytic, autoimmune; Diagnosis; Treatment outcome