Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1.

Four men were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus infection (AIDS) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (HIV-AIHA) during the years 1997-2000 at Cook County Hospital, Chicago. All patients presented with the acute onset of severe hemolytic anemia, fever, and splenomegaly. The direct and indirect antiglobulin tests were positive in all, and three patients had mixed warm and cold autoantibody hemolytic anemia. Two patients responded to prednisone therapy and remain in remission from AIHA for 15 and 30 months, respectively.