A Case Report of Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia in Leptospirosis, a Rare Presentation

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic illness caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, which causes diverse clinical manifestations and complications. Infection is biphasic, with a bacteraemic phase and an immune-mediated phase. A small number of patients will develop multiorgan failure. Transient thrombocytopenia is the most common haematological manifestation, while immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia is a very rare manifestation observed in humans. A 22-year-old previously healthy male presented with high-grade fever, body aches, and a background history of exposure to muddy water. He was managed for leptospirosis complicated with multiorgan failure. He developed a gradual drop of haemoglobin during the immune phase, clinical features and investigations were in favour of cold-type autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), highlighting the importance of considering the occurrence and identifying the type of AIHA among patients with leptospirosis with multiorgan involvement.

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Publication Details

Journal
Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine
Published
2025-08-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.4038/sljm.v34i2.574
Primary Topic
Leptospirosis research and findings
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

A Case Report of Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia in Leptospirosis, a Rare Presentation

Sunil Bowattage, K. D. Ellepola, V. Balasubramaniam, Vindya Gunawardena et al.
Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine
Leptospirosis research and findings
article

A Case Report of Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia in Leptospirosis, a Rare Presentation

Sunil Bowattage, K. D. Ellepola, V. Balasubramaniam, Vindya Gunawardena, Nimali Samarakoon, M. F. W. Ferose
article en

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic illness caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, which causes diverse clinical manifestations and complications. Infection is biphasic, with a bacteraemic phase and an immune-mediated phase. A small number of patients will develop multiorgan failure. Transient thrombocytopenia is the most common haematological manifestation, while immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia is a very rare manifestation observed in humans. A 22-year-old previously healthy male presented with high-grade fever, body aches, and a background history of exposure to muddy water. He was managed for leptospirosis complicated with multiorgan failure. He developed a gradual drop of haemoglobin during the immune phase, clinical features and investigations were in favour of cold-type autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), highlighting the importance of considering the occurrence and identifying the type of AIHA among patients with leptospirosis with multiorgan involvement.

Sri Lanka Journal of MedicineVol. 34(2)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 78%
Leptospirosis research and findings
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