[Dailydrool] IMHA

[Laura Tancredi]

Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia or Autoimmune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia is a disease or response to a disease in the body where the body no longer recognizes the red blood cells (RBCs) as self and makes antibodies against them.  The immune system by way of cells and other functions attacks and destroys the RBCs.  This can be a primary disease or be secondary to other diseases such as neoplasia (cancer), infection, drugs or vaccines.  Animals can be mildly affected or be in hemolytic crisis in which there is not enough RBCs to transport oxygen to tissues including the brain.  Many patients are jaundice and some can have hemoglobinuria (hemoglobin in urine giving it a red to red brown color).  This disease is treated with immunosuppressive doses of prednisone or other immunosuppressive medications like cyclosporine.  Mortality rates range from 25-75% depending on presenting clinical signs.