RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Recurrent infection-induced autoimmune haemolytic anaemia complicated by pulmonary embolism: a case report and literature review
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP e306
OP e308
DO 10.7861/clinmed.2021-0112
VO 21
IS 3
A1 Fang, Shu
A1 Yang, Fan
YR 2021
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/21/3/e306.abstract
AB A 73-year-old woman presented with progressive dyspnoea up to type 1 respiratory failure. Laboratory values showed leucocytosis, reduced haemoglobin to 71 g/L, elevated indirect serum bilirubin and lactic dehydrogenase. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) revealed peripheral pulmonary embolism (PE). Echocardiography showed enlarged right ventricle, elevated estimated pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (57.2 mmHg) and normal left ventricular ejection fraction. The patient was diagnosed with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), which was induced by recurrent infections without standard treatment in the past year. AIHA is the cause of PE due to the absence of common predisposing factors and other thrombophilia. The patient became better after administration of glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulin and rivaroxaban.