Some patients with malaria will develop an autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Autoimmune mechanisms for malaria-related anemia:
(1) anti-phosphatidylserine antibodies
(2) drug-induced autoantibodies (artesunate, other)
(3) cold agglutinins
Manifestations may include:
(1) anemia
(2) positive direct antiglobulin test (need to test for both IgG and complement)
(3) splenomegaly
Differential diagnosis:
(1) hemolytic anemia in malaria due to other cause
(2) autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to non-malaria cause
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
