A case of thymoma-associated autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.

A 50-year-old female presented with severe Coombs-positive haemolytic anaemia. Chest roentgenogram revealed a right-sided paracardial mass in the anterior mediastinum that was proven to be a thymoma. The patient was treated with oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) and subsequent thymectomy. Haemolysis did not return although the direct Coombs test remained weakly positive. In reviewing the literature 15 additional cases of thymoma-associated autoimmune haemolytic anaemia were identified.