Autoimmunity

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a group of rare but serious blood disorders in which the body attacks and destroys its own red blood cells. Although AIHA is defined as a singular pathologic entity caused by autoimmune-mediated erythrocyte destruction, it presents with extensive clinical heterogeneity that poses challenges to researchers and clinicians alike. Here, we break down AIHA into warm-, cold-, and mixed-type AIHA to describe the mechanism of autoantibody development in various AIHA etiologies and the corresponding determinants of red cell destruction. We also discuss the process of differentially diagnosing AIHA cases through clinical and laboratory evaluation and how to treat different AIHA pathologies. Finally, we conclude with suggestions for effective and proactive AIHA treatment and posit novel therapeutics and blood banking techniques that may become more integral for managing AIHA in the future.