Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia associated with a thymoma: case report and review of the literature

A 67-year-old female presents with a small mass in the anterior mediastinum on chest computed tomography. A biopsy proves the mass to be a spindle-cell-type or type A thymoma. Subsequently the patient develops fever and severe Coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia. She is initially treated with oral co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta clinica belgica (English ed. Online) 2009-09, Vol.64 (5), p.447-451
Main Authors: De Keyzer, K, Peeters, P, Verhelst, C, Dendooven, A, Vonck, A, Vanholder, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune - drug therapy
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune - etiology
Care and treatment
Corticosteroids
Diagnosis
Dosage and administration
Female
Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage
Hemolytic anemia
Humans
Prednisone - administration & dosage
Thymectomy
Thymoma
Thymoma - complications
Thymoma - pathology
Thymoma - surgery
Thymus Neoplasms - complications
Thymus Neoplasms - pathology
Thymus Neoplasms - surgery
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Description
Summary:A 67-year-old female presents with a small mass in the anterior mediastinum on chest computed tomography. A biopsy proves the mass to be a spindle-cell-type or type A thymoma. Subsequently the patient develops fever and severe Coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia. She is initially treated with oral corticosteroids. Because of persistence of the haemolysis subsequent thymectomy is performed. Haemolysis disappears almost instantly and does not return after discontinuation of the oral corticosteroids. Review of the literature reveals only 17 other cases of thymoma-associated autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.
ISSN:1784-3286
2295-3337
DOI:10.1179/acb.2009.075