Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Pure Red Cell Aplasia during a Severe COVID-19 B.1.1.7 Infection

Abstract

Warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare complication of COVID-19 infection. We report a case of warm AIHA in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with methylprednisolone and several red blood cell transfusions. Despite treatment of the warm AIHA, the patient’s reticulocyte count remained low, and his biochemical markers were suggestive of pure red cell aplasia, which was later attributed to a concurrent parvovirus B19 infection. This case highlights an unusual situation of two separate hematological processes caused by two separate and simultaneous viral infections.

Keywords

• warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• pure red cell aplasia
• COVID-19
• parvovirus B19