[Clinical analysis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in thalassemia major].

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) after allo-HSCT in patients with thalassemia major (TM). Methods: A retrospective analysis of AIHA status after allo-HSCT in 291 TM patients from July 2007 to December 2017 was conducted. Results: Five of the 291 TM patients (1.72%) were diagnosed with post-transplant AIHA. The median time of AIHA was 7 (5-12) months after HSCT. All post-transplant AIHA patients were positive in direct and indirect Coombs test, the main clinical manifestations were dizziness, fatigue, pale complexion, skin and sclera yellow, and soy sauce urine. The incidence of AIHA was higher after unrelated donor transplantation (6.36%, 4/63) compared with that of sibling donor transplantation (0.43%, 1/228). One patient who received only prednison was dead. Four patients who received rituximab combined with prednisolone were alive, Coombs test in two of them were negative. Conclusions: AIHA after allo-HSCT developed in 1.72% patients with TM. Monitoring of Coombs test was important for diagnosis of post-transplant AIHA. The incidence of post-transplant AIHA was higher in unrelated donors compared with that of sibling donors transplantation. Treatment of rituximab combined glucocorticoid was effective strategy for post-transplant AIHA.