Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a pediatric patient infected human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); a case report.

Abstract

People living with human immunodeficiency virus present hematological complications during course of disease, they may be due to their morbid state, underlying opportunistic infections or due to antiretroviral treatment. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a rare and potentially fatal complication of HIV infection.

We present case of an infant older than one year nine months, for perinatal HIV infection, diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to mixed antibodies, with high immunological reaction and poor response to clinical treatment.

Although the Coombs test remains the gold standard for diagnosis, its positivity does not establish the diagnosis per se, it can positive in 18-43% of HIV-infected patients.