Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: a clinical case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15574/SP.2025.7(151).102107Keywords:
autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, children, case report, autoimmune mechanisms, oncohematologyAbstract
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in combination with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a rare occurrence in pediatric practice. AIHA can pose significant diagnostic challenges, masking or diverting clinical attention from the underlying oncological process.
Clinical case. This article presents a case of an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with both AIHA and HL. Initially, the patient was diagnosed with AIHA; however, further evaluation revealed the presence of HL. Standard therapy for AIHA proved to be ineffective, necessitating a change in treatment strategy. Sustained remission was achieved only after protocol-based combination chemotherapy targeting the primary oncological disease.
The article also includes a review of current scientific literature regarding the coexistence of AIHA and HL. Analysis of published clinical cases helps to better understand the pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnostic difficulties, and therapeutic approaches in such rare presentations.
Conclusions. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition of the oncohematological nature of AIHA in pediatric patients. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of AIHA in the context of HL, which will support the development of better treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.
The study was carried out according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Agreement of parents was obtained for the study.
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
Ansell SM. (2016). Hodgkin lymphoma: 2016 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management. American Journal of Hematology. 91: 434-442. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.24272; PMid:27001163
Bowdler AJ, Glick IW. (1966). Autoimmune hemolytic anemia as the herald state of Hodgkin's disease. Annals of Internal Medicine. 65(4): 761-767. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-65-4-761; PMid:5926396
Burley NB, Dy PS, Hande S, Kalantri S, Mohindroo C, Miller K. (2021). Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as Presenting Symptom of Hodgkin Lymphoma. Case Reports in Hematology. 2021: 5580823. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5580823; PMid:33859850 PMCid:PMC8026303
Dimou M, Angelopoulou MK, Pangalis GA, Georgiou G, Kalpadakis C et al. (2012). Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and autoimmune thrombocytopenia at diagnosis and during follow-up of Hodgkin lymphoma. Leukemia & Lymphoma. 53(8): 1481-1487. https://doi.org/10.3109/10428194.2012.660628; PMid:22280533
Ehrenfeld M, Abu-Shakra M, Buskila D, Shoenfeld Y. (2001). The dual association between lymphoma and autoimmunity. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases. 27(4): 750-756. https://doi.org/10.1006/bcmd.2001.0442; PMid:11778659
Feng Q, Zak D, Daya R. (2012). Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and classical Hodgkin lymphoma: a case report and literature review. Clinical Advances in Hematology & Oncology. 10(4): 270-276.
Fraint E, Guo X, Gavrilova T. (2021). Isolated B-cell lymphopenia and autoimmune hemolytic anemia as a curious combination of findings at the time of advanced Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis: a pediatric case report. AME Case Reports. 5: 26. https://doi.org/10.21037/acr-21-16; PMid:34312605 PMCid:PMC8256115
Goldin LR, Landgren O. (2009). Autoimmunity and lymphomagenesis. International Journal of Cancer. 124(7): 1497-1502. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.24141; PMid:19089924 PMCid:PMC2666348
Gomes MM, Oliva T, Pinto A. (2016). Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Hodgkin's Disease: An Unusual Pediatric Association. Case Reports in Pediatrics. 2016: 4598587. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4598587; PMid:26904342 PMCid:PMC4745911
Goodnow CC. (2007). Multistep pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Cell. 130(1): 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2007.06.033; PMid:17632054
Kar S, Kumar CGD, Kar R, Basavarajegowda A. (2024). Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Children: Clinical Profile and Outcome. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 91(2): 143-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-022-04469-6; PMid:36787020
Levine AM, Thornton P, Forman SJ, Van Hale P, Holdorf D, Rouault CL et al. (1980). Positive Coombs test in Hodgkin's disease: significance and implications. Blood. 55(4): 607-611. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.V55.4.607.607; PMid:7357087
Majumdar G. (1995). Unremitting severe autoimmune haemolytic anaemia as a presenting feature of Hodgkin's disease with minimum tumour load. Leukemia & Lymphoma. 20(1-2): 169-172. https://doi.org/10.3109/10428199509054771; PMid:8750641
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). NCCR Explorer: An interactive website for NCCR cancer statistics. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Available online. Last accessed February 25, 2025.
Ozdemir F, Yilmaz M, Akdogan R, Kaynar K, Kavgaci H, Karti S, Aydin F. (2005). Hodgkin's disease and autoimmune hemolytic anemia: a case report. Medical Principles and Practice. 14(3): 205-207. https://doi.org/10.1159/000084642; PMid:15863998
Roumier M, Loustau V, Guillaud C, Languille L, Mahevas M, Khellaf M et al. (2014). Characteristics and outcome of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia in adults: New insights based on a single-center experience with 60 patients. American Journal of Hematology. 89(9): E150-E155. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.23767; PMid:24847759
Sallah S, Wan JY, Hanrahan LR. (2001). Future development of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Clinical Cancer Research. 7(4): 791-794.
Sengottaiyan J, Jayaraman D, Kumar S, Shanmugam SG, Scott JX. (2024). Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as Paraneoplastic Phenomenon in Hodgkins Lymphoma in Children - A Rare Occurrence. EJIFCC. 35(1): 52-54.
Shah MB, Nanjapp V, Devaraj HS, Sindhu KS. (2013). Autoimmune hemolytic anaemia in Hodgkin's lymphoma. Journal of the Association of Physicians of India. 61(7): 492-494.
Shah SS, Khubchandani SR, Parikh RS et al. (2017). Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report. Hematology & Transfusion International Journal. 4(6): 145-147. https://doi.org/10.15406/htij.2017.04.00101
Sierra RD. (1991). Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia in Hodgkin's disease: case presentation and review of the literature. Military Medicine. 156(12): 691-692. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/156.12.691; PMid:1780074
Smith MA, Altekruse SF, Adamson PC et al. (2014). Declining childhood and adolescent cancer mortality. Cancer. 120(16): 2497-2506. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.28748; PMid:24853691 PMCid:PMC4136455
Sokol RJ, Booker DJ, Stamps R. (1994). Erythrocyte autoantibodies, autoimmune haemolysis, and carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 47(4): 340-343. https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.47.4.340; PMid:8027372 PMCid:PMC501938
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Modern pediatrics. Ukraine

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
The policy of the Journal “MODERN PEDIATRICS. UKRAINE” is compatible with the vast majority of funders' of open access and self-archiving policies. The journal provides immediate open access route being convinced that everyone – not only scientists - can benefit from research results, and publishes articles exclusively under open access distribution, with a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 international license (СС BY-NC).
Authors transfer the copyright to the Journal “MODERN PEDIATRICS. UKRAINE” when the manuscript is accepted for publication. Authors declare that this manuscript has not been published nor is under simultaneous consideration for publication elsewhere. After publication, the articles become freely available on-line to the public.
Readers have the right to use, distribute, and reproduce articles in any medium, provided the articles and the journal are properly cited.
The use of published materials for commercial purposes is strongly prohibited.