COVID-19 Can Trigger Deadly Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Which Often Shows No Early Symptoms!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 10, 2025 3 weeks, 3 days, 2 hours, 48 minutes ago
Medical News:
A Silent Killer in the Bloodstream!
As the world continues to grapple with the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists are uncovering new and dangerous complications linked to the virus. One alarming condition gaining attention is Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)—a rare but life-threatening disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys red blood cells. What's particularly troubling is that AIHA often starts silently, with no clear symptoms in the early stages.
COVID-19 Can Trigger Deadly Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Which Often Shows No Early Symptoms!
In a new and extensive systematic review conducted by researchers from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in the United States, scientists examined 85 studies encompassing 105 confirmed cases of COVID-19-induced AIHA. This
Medical News report reveals just how this hidden danger is affecting COVID-19 patients worldwide and why doctors need to be vigilant in detecting it early.
What Is Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and How Does COVID-19 Trigger It?
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia is an immune-related condition where the body mistakenly creates antibodies that attack its own red blood cells. These attacks lead to their destruction, resulting in severe anemia, fatigue, and in some cases, organ failure. The researchers believe that a phenomenon called molecular mimicry could be behind this. COVID-19’s spike protein, they say, closely resembles a protein found on red blood cells, confusing the immune system into turning against the body’s own cells.
The review highlights that COVID-19 can lead to either cold agglutinin disease (CAD) or warm antibody AIHA, depending on which temperature the antibodies are activated. Cold agglutinin AIHA was found to be the most common type among COVID-19 patients, identified in nearly half the reviewed cases.
Often Overlooked Until It's Too Late
One of the most chilling findings is how easily AIHA can go unnoticed. Among the 105 patients studied, while the majority reported common COVID-19 symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath, only 24% showed classic signs of hemolysis—such as pale skin, jaundice, or dark urine—when first admitted. In many cases, doctors only discovered AIHA when patients' red blood cell counts dropped drastically.
The average hemoglobin level in these patients was dangerously low, at just 5.99 g/dL (normal levels range between 12–17 g/dL). Lab tests also showed signs of extreme red blood cell destruction, including elevated levels of LDH and low haptoglobin.
Life-Saving Treatments and Startling Mortality Rates
Steroids emerged as the most effective treatment in the review. Of the 82 patients who recovered, 95% were treated with steroids, which help suppress the immune attack on red blood cells. Combinations of steroids with other therapies—suc
h as blood transfusions, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or rituximab—resulted in even better outcomes, with some combinations achieving recovery rates above 90%.
However, not all cases had happy endings. The overall mortality rate in the study was 14.3%, with about a quarter of these deaths directly caused by AIHA-related complications like multi-organ failure and cardiovascular collapse. The remaining deaths were mainly due to severe COVID-19-related issues such as respiratory failure, septic shock, and neurological complications.
Who’s Most at Risk?
The average age of the patients was 50.6 years, and slightly more than half were male. Interestingly, a majority of cases (83.5%) were reported from Asia. Around 15 patients had pre-existing medical conditions, mostly blood-related cancers like chronic lymphocytic leukemia, making them more vulnerable to severe outcomes.
The researchers also noticed that AIHA typically developed about 13 days after COVID-19 infection was confirmed, emphasizing the need for medical professionals to monitor patients closely even after the initial symptoms subside.
What This Means for the Future
This groundbreaking review not only confirms the link between COVID-19 and AIHA but also calls for immediate action. Doctors must be trained to recognize even subtle signs of hemolytic anemia in COVID-19 patients. Routine blood work should be considered, especially for those with unexplained fatigue or worsening symptoms during hospitalization.
The Rutgers researchers stress that early diagnosis and steroid treatment can save lives. They also advocate for further studies to refine treatment guidelines and explore the underlying mechanisms that trigger AIHA during SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Conclusion
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia is a dangerous and underrecognized complication of COVID-19 that can strike without warning. While the condition remains rare, it has been shown to significantly raise the risk of death in infected individuals, especially those with other health issues. The good news is that with early detection and proper treatment—most notably through the use of steroids—many patients can recover. But the key lies in awareness. Doctors and patients alike must know that behind what seems like regular COVID-19 symptoms could be a silent battle raging within the bloodstream, one that requires urgent medical intervention.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Immunology.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521661625000877
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-finds-that-sars-cov-2-infections-can-either-cause-onset-of-anemia-or-exacerbate-the-effects-of-anemia-for-those-already-with-the-condition
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-causes-deformation-of-red-blood-cells,-leading-to-anemia
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-news-mild-covid-19-can-cause-serious-hematological-issues-such-as-pancytopenia,-paroxysmal-nocturnal-hemoglobinuria-and-aplastic-anemia
https://www.thailandmedical.news/pages/thailand_doctors_listings
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/hospital-news
Share
Tweet
Share
