Transient thrombocytopenia after incompatible red blood transfusion in an infant girl with autoimmune hemolytic anemia

J Nippon Med Sch. 2006 Apr;73(2):93-6. doi: 10.1272/jnms.73.93.

Abstract

We report on 5-month-old girl with severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin 2.9 g/dl, positive direct Coombs test) in whom thrombocytopenia developed after red blood cell transfusion. The platelet count was 62.1 x 10(4)/mm3 on admission and rapidly fell to 6.0 x 10(4)/mm3 rapidly after transfusion of incompatible red blood cells with intravenous predonisolone administration. No increased hemolysis or alloimmunization was observed after transfusion. The platelet count and hemoglobin levels gradually improved over 8 weeks with corticosteroid therapy. We suspect that the thrombocytopenia in our patient was transfusion-induced.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / therapy*
  • Blood Group Incompatibility / complications*
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Thrombocytopenia / etiology*