Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when antibodies form against the body's own red blood cells. The antibodies destroy the blood cells because the immune system mistakenly recognizes these blood cells as foreign material within the body.
The antibodies may be caused by:
Complication of another disease Past blood transfusions Pregnancy (if the baby's blood type is different from the mother's) Reaction to certain medications Reaction to certain infections
Secondary immune hemolytic anemia: If the cause of antibody formation is a disease or medication.
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia: accounts for one-half of all immune hemolytic anemias.
What causes Immune hemolytic anemia?
Immune hemolytic anemia occurs when antibodies form against the body's own red blood cells. The antibodies destroy the blood cells because the immune system mistakenly recognizes these blood cells as foreign material within the body.
The antibodies may be caused by:
Complication of another disease Past blood transfusions Pregnancy (if the baby's blood type is different from the mother's) Reaction to certain medications Reaction to certain infections
Secondary immune hemolytic anemia: If the cause of antibody formation is a disease or medication.
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia: accounts for one-half of all immune hemolytic anemias.