Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia preceding the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is known to be associated with Hodgkin's disease (HD) but is uncommon. It usually presents at the time of initial diagnosis of HD or during the course of the disease but AIHA preceding the diagnosis of HD is very rare. We describe here 2 cases of AIHA who presented one year before the diagnosis of HD. There was no evidence of a coexisting disease at initial diagnosis. Both of the patients required steroids throughout this period to control AIHA. Our report illustrates that patients with AIHA should be regularly and carefully monitored, particularly in treatment resistant cases, for manifestations of a concomitant disease, such as HD, developing later.