AIHA
Medical abbreviation · Hematology and Oncology
| Stands for | Autoimmune hemolytic anemia |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
AIHA stands for Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a hematology and oncology abbreviation.
Anemia caused by antibodies that attack the body's own red blood cells. Warm AIHA, the most common type, involves IgG antibodies active at body temperature, while cold agglutinin disease involves IgM antibodies that act in cooler parts of the body.
Example: Hgb 6.4, spherocytes, LDH 690, DAT positive for IgG: warm AIHA, prednisone 1 mg/kg started.
Usage notes
The direct antiglobulin (Coombs) test is the key diagnostic test. Causes include lymphoproliferative disorders such as CLL, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, drugs and infections, though many cases are idiopathic. Corticosteroids are first-line for warm AIHA, with rituximab for relapse; sutimlimab was approved in 2022 for cold agglutinin disease. Crossmatching blood is difficult because antibodies react with donor cells.
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.