Idiopathic Hemolytic Anemia of Pregnancy: A Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Hemolytic anemia is not uncommon in obstetric practice. However, a rare entity has been described, in which an idiopathic hemolytic anemia occurs during pregnancy, which gets resolved completely after delivery and recurs during subsequent pregnancy. We came across such a case in a young female in third trimester of her second pregnancy which was referred with complaints of severe anemia. On ultrasonographic examination the baby was normal for gestational age. Investigations performed revealed Coombs negative hemolytic anemia of unknown origin. She was treated with hematinics, blood transfusion and glucocorticoids. A healthy baby without evidence of hemolysis was delivered uneventfully through the vagina. The patient recovered during postpartum and was discharged with normal indices. As this condition is rare and exact cause is not known, also in our case first pregnancy was uneventful in contrast to the cases described in the literature, which merits its presentation.




J Hematol. 2014;3(4):118-120
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jh171w