Anemia hemolítica imunomediada: diagnóstico e terapêutica

Abstract

Immunomediated hemolytic anemia is a clinical syndrome resulting from the accelerated destruction of red blood cells by immunomediated mechanisms. Clinical signs associated to this syndrome are generally nonspecific, such as paleness, weight loss, petechiae, ecchymoses, lymphadenopathy, and hepatomegaly, however, manifestations related directly to hemolysis can also be verified, which include splenomegaly, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria or bilirubinuria. Such disease impairs tissue oxygenation bringing risks to the patient's health. Regarding to the diagnostic definition of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, there is no gold standard laboratory test yet, and it is being achieved by the combination of patient clinical presentation, laboratory findings and immunological tests. For the therapeutic control, the use of corticoid therapy associated or not with anticoagulants is essential, due to the risk of thromboembolism in this disturb, as well as the implementation of transfusion support therapy, especially from concentrate of red blood cells, which will not interfere with blood volume, minimizing the risk of immune reactions. Thus, in view of the homeostatic damage generated by immunomediated hemolytic anemia to patient’s health, as well as its frequent occurrence in the veterinary clinic of small animals, it was the aim of the present undergraduate thesis to review the theme.