A case of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia achieving complete response with rituximab

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is characterised by the formation of auto-antibodies that bind to the erythrocyte surface membrane, leading to haemolysis. It is the main cause of acquired extracorpuscular haemolysis in children. It can be classified according to the characteristic temperature reactivity of the red blood cell auto-antibody in warm-antibody autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (reacting at 37°C) and cold-antibody autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (reacting optimally at lower temperature). Glucocorticoids and/or intravenous immunoglobulins are the mainstay of treatment in majority of patients with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, but when these treatments fail, patients often require cytotoxic drugs or splenectomy. Rituximab, an anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibody, has gained widespread acceptance in the management of B-Cell malignancies. Additionally, it has been used to treat the disorders associated with auto-antibody production. We describe a 9-year-old boy with warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia resistant to the standard treatment who was successfully treated with Rituximab.