| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 4 | Page : 226-229 |
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Plasmodium vivax Malaria Associated with Severe Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
Goranti Nishith, Vivek Sharma, Rajiv Sharan
Department of Pediatrics, Tata Motors Hospital, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Goranti Nishith
M-28/5, Telco Colony, Near Tata Motors Hospital, Jamshedpur - 831 004, Jharkhand
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ipcares.ipcares_129_22
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Background: Severe and/or persistent anemia due to autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) secondary to vivax malaria is a rare association. Very few cases are reported worldwide, and even less from India. AIHA occurs when immunoglobulins and/or complements target red blood cell surface antigens resulting in hemolysis. Awareness of this complication helps in early recognition, investigation, and prompt initiation of treatment. Clinical Description: A 15-year-old boy presented with a history of high fever associated with chills for 2 days. Examination revealed the presence of severe pallor and icterus. Systemic examination was unremarkable. Investigations showed anemia (Hb: 3.6 g/dl) with reticulocytosis (6.6%), malaria (trophozoites of Plasmodium vivax and antigen test positive), and indirect evidence of hemolysis (indirect hyperbilirubinemia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase of 668 U/l). Management and Outcome: Treatment was started with intravenous artesunate and packed cells transfusion was planned. Cross-matching showed autoantibodies which raised suspicion of AIHA. Coomb's test was positive. Least incompatible packed red blood cells were transfused. A repeat peripheral smear was negative for malaria. Posttransfusion, the Hb levels rose to 8.3 g/dl before falling to 5.3 g/dl over the next 2 days. The direct antiglobulin test was positive. High doses of oral prednisolone resulted in progressive improvement in Hb levels to 8 g/dl within a week. He was discharged on oral prednisolone with daily oral folic acid supplements. The steroids were tapered when Hb reached 10.6 g/dl and continued for 3 months. Conclusion: If a patient with malaria (falciparum or vivax) exhibits persistent severe anemia, indirect evidence of hemolysis is found on investigations and/or autoantibodies identified on cross-matching, AIHA should be suspected and investigated accordingly. |
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