[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with ulcerative colitis]. / Anemia hemolítica autoinmunie asociada a colitis ulcerosa.

ABSTRACT

The incidence of immunological disorders has been reported to be greater in patients with inflammatory bowel disease than among the general population. The association of ulcerative colitis (UC) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) was first described in the early 1950s but no more than 50 cases have been described in the international literature. Detailed description of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in this association is lacking. The clinical course of AIHA and treatment response in these patients seems to be independent of UC, sometimes requiring immunosuppressive treatment and even surgery. We present 2 cases of AIHA associated with UC with distinct response to conventional treatment. We also review the literature on the subject.