Successful Rituximab Treatment of Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Caused by Both Warm Autoantibodies and Cold Agglutinin: A Case Report

This report describes a case which successfully treated with rituximab against autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by both warm autoantibodies and cold agglutinin (mixed AIHA). A 52-year-old man with malaise was referred to our hospital in December 2002. A diagnosis of mixed AIHA was made. His clinical course showed that the hemolysis was mainly caused by cold agglutinin, with a possible contribution from the warm autoantibody. He was treated with prednisolone (PSL), Cyclosporine (CyA), and cyclophosphamide (CPA). The treatment with PSL, CyA, and CPA failed to stabilize the hemolysis caused by cold exposure in the winter season. In November 2013 (winter season), rituximab therapy (375 mg/m2 weekly for four weeks) was started, and the hemolysis improved. The present case suggests that rituximab is useful against mixed AIHA. Further studies are warranted to establish the effectiveness of rituximab against mixed AIHA.