Hemolytic Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Our "Gut" Tells Us to Blame the Drug

Crohns Colitis 360. 2021 Nov 20;3(4):otab070. doi: 10.1093/crocol/otab070. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Several studies determined that autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare extraintestinal IBD manifestation, related to the underlying disease activity. However, evidence linking biologic therapy to AIHA is sparse.

Methods: This article reviews the evidence on the association of these clinical phenomena.

Results: There are two retrospective studies and a few case reports linking biologic therapies to AIHA.

Conclusions: While some autoimmune phenomenon triggered by our biologic therapies have been well recognized, we do not find the evidence associating these therapies to AIHA sufficiently compelling.

Keywords: Hemolytic anemia; IBD; vedolizumab.