JCDR - Register at Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, ISSN - 0973 - 709X
Paediatrics Section DOI : 10.7860/JCDR/2018/32696.11370
Year : 2018 | Month : Apr | Volume : 12 | Issue : 4 Full Version Page : SD03 - SD04

Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia: An Unusual Manifestation of Kawasaki Disease

Aashish Gupta1, Rahi Raza2, Ayush Manchanda3, Jacob Puliyel4

1 Resident, Department of Paediatrics, St Stephens Hospital, Delhi, India.
2 Resident, Department of Paediatrics, St Stephens Hospital, Delhi, India.
3 Consultant, Department of Paediatrics, St Stephens Hospital, Delhi, India.
4 Head of Department, Department of Paediatrics, St Stephens Hospital, Delhi, India.


NAME, ADDRESS, E-MAIL ID OF THE CORRESPONDING AUTHOR: Dr. Jacob Puliyel, Head of Department, Department of Paediatrics, St Stephens Hospital, Delhi-110054, India.
E-mail: puliyel@gmail.com
Abstract

Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) can cause Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA) in some patients. There are many reports of AIHA developing in children with Kawasaki Disease (KD) after they were treated with IVIg. However, AIHA is seldom reported at the onset of KD, prior to the treatment with IVIg. Here, we report a case of a 10-month-old infant, who developed AIHA alongside the manifestations of KD. Treatment with IVIg resulted in the resolution of symptoms of both KD and AIHA. We also present a review of the literature on similar findings. This suggests that AIHA may be an uncommon manifestation of KD; or that KD and AIHA may both be stimulated, in susceptible persons, by some common agent.

Keywords

Case Report

A 10-month-old infant (with no significant past medical history) presented to the Department of Paediatrics with fever, diarrhoea and vomiting from past two days. He was pale, had an erythematous maculopapular rash all over the body, non-purulent conjunctivitis, oedema of hands and feet; and dry, cracked and bleeding lips. Blood reports showed leucocytosis (16100/μL) and severe anaemia (Haemoglobin (Hb) 6.1 gm/dL). The initial laboratory reports are presented in the [Table/Fig-1]. The provisional diagnosis at admission was rendered as acute gastroenteritis, malnutrition with severe anaemia and possible sepsis. Empirically, he was started on intravenous ceftriaxone (a dose of 75 mg/kg/day). On the second day of admission, his Hb had fallen to 4.8 gm%. A blood transfusion was planned; however, his blood would not cross-matching with the blood available in the blood bank. Direct and indirect Coombs test were positive (clumping of RBCs was seen). Also, hot and cold auto antibodies (IgG and IgM respectively) were detected in the blood sample, suggestive of AIHA. On the third day of admission, IVIg 1 gm/kg/day for two days and intravenous dexamethasone at 0.2 mg/kg every eight hours, were started for AIHA.

Laboratory investigations at admission.

S. No.InvestigationActual values (Normal range)
1.TLC16100/μL (4.5-10.5)
2.Neutrophills71% (40-75)
3.Lymphocytes06% (20-50)
4.Monocytes02% (2-10)
5.Eosinophils09% (1-6)
6.Platelets165×103/μL (150-450)
7.Haemoglobin6.1 g/dL (11.5-18)
8.ESR (Westergrens)22 mm 1st hr (<15)
9.Reticulocytes6.01 % (0.5-6)
10.Sodium 132 mEq/dL(135-145)
11.BUN46 mg/dL (7-20)
12.Creatinine1.6 mg/dL (0.6-1.2)
13.SGOT20 U/L (5-40)
14.SGPT18 U/L (5-40)
15.Total Protein4.84 g/dL (6-8)
16.Albumin2.78 g/dL (3.5-5.5)
17.CRP 38.938 mg/dL(<1.0)

Two discrete lymph nodes of 1.5 cm were noticed in the occipital region and post auricular region on Day four of admission, which were not present on initial presentation. He became afebrile within 48 hours of starting the IVIg infusion and steroids. His Hb went up to 5.6 gm/dL by Day five of admission. An echocardiogram was done on Day six, which revealed dilatation of right coronary artery (diameter of 2.3 mm, Z score of 2.7). The patient met the criteria for KD devised by the American Heart Association [1]. Aspirin was then started at 3 mg/kg/day. Platelet count was found to be 560×103/μL on Day eight of admission. The general condition of child improved and he was discharged from the hospital after eight days of admission, on aspirin at 3 mg/kg/day advised for six weeks. A repeat echocardiography remained pending for the present case. A long term follow up was planned with regular echocardiography; however, the patient was lost to follow up.

Discussion

The IVIg is used in the treatment of both KD and AIHA. However, it can also cause AIHA [2]. The AIHA in KD after infusion of immunoglobins was reported by Tocan V et al., [3]. The AIHA seen before IVIg infusion in KD is rare. We performed a systematic search of the literature looking at ‘Autoimmune Haemolytic Disease’ in ‘KD’ before IVIg administration. A search of PubMed (on December 7, 2017) for these keywords yielded 17 reports, out of which seven did not pertain to cases of KD and AIHA, whereas 10 were found relevant. Out of these, four pertained to AIHA prior to the administration of IVIg for KD [4-7]. Hand searching through the references of these papers yielded one more case reported in a journal not indexed with PubMed [8]. The previously reported cases have been tabulated in [Table/Fig-2]. Two studies that were found were not in English language [7,8]. This is arguably the sixth case report of AIHA as onset of KD. It indicates that AIHA could be a rare manifestation of KD. The aetiology of KD is not known but it is believed that to be an autoimmune phenomenon provoked by bacterial, viral, mycoplasma, or non-living allergen [9,10].

Review of literature of AIHA at onset of KD.

Author Year, Country [Reference]AgeSexClinical FeaturesInvestigations
Thakkar D et al., [4]7 monthMale

Fever, mild icterus, severe anaemia

Generalised lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly.

Erythema of palm and soles and desquamation.

Hb 3.6 g/dL, WBC count: 41.7×109/L with 78% neutrophils. Platelet count 407,000/μL, reticulocyte count 3.4%.

Peripheral smear anisopoikilocytosis, polychromasia, neutrophilic leucocytosis with monocytosis and few atypical lymphocytosis. CRP 94mg/L. DCT +ve.

Mycoplasma IgM +ve

Jiang J et al., [5]1 yearFemaleEyes conjunctival hyperaemia, bilateral neck, 2-3 bean sized lymph nodes. Throat and oral mucosal congestion, red lips, non chapped, coarse breath sounds.

White blood cell count 16.1×109/L, neutrophils 9.9×109/L, lymphocytes 4.7×109/L, platelets 389,000/μL.

CRP 72.5 mg/L, SGOT 256 U/L, SGPT 323 U/L

Bunin NJ et al., [6]7 weeksFemaleFebrile, irritable. Periorbital oedema, conjunctival injection, photophobia, oropharyngeal congestion with fissuring of lips, induration and oedema of hands and feet. No lympadenopathy or hepatosplenomegalyHaemoglobin 11.8 g/dL with progressive anaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocytosis.

Conclusion

One can speculate that both KD and AIHA are stimulated in susceptible persons by some common agent or maybe AIHA is a rare manifestation of KD. The exact aetiology of KD is not known even though there are many known causes for AIHA. The association between KD and AIHA may help, in the future, to elucidate the aetiology of KD.

References

[1]McCrindle BW, Rowley AH, Newburger JW, Burns JC, Bolger AF, Gewitz M, Diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of Kawasaki disease: a scientific statement for health professionals from the American Heart Association Circulation 2017 135(17):e927-99.10.1161/CIR.000000000000048428356445  [Google Scholar]  [CrossRef]  [PubMed]

[2]Thakkar D, Radhakrishnan N, Pruthi PK, Sachdeva A, Kawasaki disease with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia Indian Pediatr 2015 52(1):245-46.10.1007/s13312-015-0617-y25849007  [Google Scholar]  [CrossRef]  [PubMed]

[3]Jiang J, Song XW, Zhang QY, A case of Kawasaki disease with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2016 54(6):465-66.  [Google Scholar]

[4]Bunin NJ, Carev JL, Sullivan DB, Autoimmunehaemolytic anaemia in association with Kawasaki disease Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1986 8(4):351-53.10.1097/00043426-198624000-000193799937  [Google Scholar]  [CrossRef]  [PubMed]

[5]Orbach H, Katz U, Sherer Y, Shoenfeld Y, Intravenous immunoglobulin: adverse effects and safe administration Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2005 29(3):173-84.10.1385/CRIAI:29:3:173  [Google Scholar]  [CrossRef]

[6]Tocan V, Inaba A, Kurano T, Sonoda M, Soebijanto K, Nakayama H, Severe haemolytic anaemia following intravenous immunoglobulin in an infant with kawasaki disease J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2017 39(2):e100-e102.10.1097/MPH.000000000000070427879540  [Google Scholar]  [CrossRef]  [PubMed]

[7]Cataldo F, Violante M, Bellia L, Gueci G, Maltese I, Albeggiani A, Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in the course of Kawasaki disease A case presentation. Minerva Pediatr 1991 43(10):661-64.  [Google Scholar]

[8]Hong JH, Kwon YJ, Lee KY, Kil HR, Lee HS, Lee MH, A Case of Atypical Kawasaki Disease with Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia J Korean Pediatr Cardiol Soc 2005 9(2):400-04.Available at https://koreamed.org/SearchBasic.php?RID=2054JKPCS%2F2005.9.2.400&DT=1&QY Accessed on 14 February 2017  [Google Scholar]

[9]Leung DY, Giorno RC, Kazemi LV, Flynn PA, Busse JB, Evidence for superantigen involvement in cardiovascular injury due to Kawasaki syndrome J Immunol 1995 155(10):5018-21.  [Google Scholar]

[10]Leung DY, Meissner HC, Shulman ST, Mason WH, Gerber MA, Glode MP, Prevalence of super-antigen-secreting bacteria in patients with Kawasaki disease J Pediatr 2002 140(6):742-46.10.1067/mpd.2002.12366412072880  [Google Scholar]  [CrossRef]  [PubMed]