Severe hemolytic anemia and excessive leukocytosis masking mycoplasma pneumonia

The formation of cold agglutinins is frequently observed during Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Nevertheless, severe hemolysis is exceptional. We report a case of life-threatening hemolytic anemia caused by M. pneumoniae. As the leucocyte count was excessively elevated, the differential diagnosis...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of hematology 2001-03, Vol.80 (3), p.180-182
Main Authors: DAXBÖCK, Florian, ZEDTWITZ-LIEBENSTEIN, Konstantin, BURGMANN, Heinz, GRANINGER, Wolfgang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia
Anemia, Hemolytic - etiology
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system
Biological and medical sciences
Case reports
Chest
Cold agglutinins
Diagnosis, Differential
Differential diagnosis
Hematologic Neoplasms - diagnosis
Hemolysis
Hemolytic anemia
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Infection
Infectious diseases
Ionizing radiation
Leukocytes
Leukocytosis
Leukocytosis - etiology
Male
Malignancy
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Pneumonia
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - complications
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - diagnosis
Roxithromycin
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Summary:The formation of cold agglutinins is frequently observed during Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. Nevertheless, severe hemolysis is exceptional. We report a case of life-threatening hemolytic anemia caused by M. pneumoniae. As the leucocyte count was excessively elevated, the differential diagnosis primarily comprised hematological malignancies. The presence of cold agglutinins indicated the correct diagnosis, which was confirmed by highly elevated levels of both IgG and IgM antibodies to M. pneumoniae and a chest X-ray suggestive of atypical pneumonia. The patient was treated with roxithromycin and showed a favorable recovery within ten days after admission. This case demonstrates that, even in patients with clinically mild pneumonia, M. pneumoniae may be the cause of severe anemia.
ISSN:0939-5555
1432-0584
DOI:10.1007/s002770000250