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Fatal disseminated intravascular coagulation and pulmonary thrombosis following blood transfusion in a patient with severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia and human immunodeficiency virus infection
Author(s) -
Bilgrami S.,
Cable R.,
Pisciotto P.,
Rowland F.,
Greenberg B.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1046/j.1537-2995.1994.34394196624.x
Subject(s) - medicine , disseminated intravascular coagulation , autoimmune hemolytic anemia , hemolytic anemia , complication , hemolysis , anemia , coagulopathy , immunology , etiology , thrombosis , sepsis
Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) has rarely been reported in association with human immunodeficiency (HIV) infection and never as a presenting manifestation. Similarly, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a very infrequent complication of HIV infection. Case Report: An unusual patient is described who at the time of presentation with severe AIHA was found to be HIV positive. Shortly thereafter, he developed DIC, pulmonary thrombi, and right heart failure that proved fatal, in spite of intensive supportive measures. Conclusion: Although the etiology of the DIC and pulmonary thrombi could not be established, they are most likely related to aggressive transfusion therapy, with associated intravascular hemolysis.