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30-Jan-2011
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Arch Hellen Med, 28(1), January-February 2011, 106-110 SHORT COMMUNICATION Autoimmune hemolytic anemia as an early manifestation of Wegener's granulomatosis K. Kitsios, G. Vasiliadis, P. Panagiotopoulou,
A. Tokmaktsis, I. Aggelopoulos, V. Stoupas,
A. Dimitriadis |
The case is presented of a 72 year-old man with a two month history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia who was admitted for investigation of fever, productive cough, malaise and weakness of the lower limbs. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed cavitary lesions in both lungs. Serum testing for autoantibodies was positive for c-ANCA. The patient died of acute respiratory distress syndrome with underlying sepsis. A late diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis was made. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia can in rare cases be an early manifestation of a systemic vasculitis.
Key words: ANCA vasculitis, Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Cavitary lung lesions, Wegener's granulomatosis.
