TY - JOUR T1 - Diagnosis and management of newly diagnosed childhood autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Recommendations from the Red Cell Study Group of the Paediatric Haemato-Oncology Italian Association. JF - Blood Transfus Y1 - 2017 A1 - Ladogana, Saverio A1 - Maruzzi, Matteo A1 - Samperi, Piera A1 - Perrotta, Silverio A1 - Del Vecchio, Giovanni C A1 - Notarangelo, Lucia D A1 - Farruggia, Piero A1 - Verzegnassi, Federico A1 - Masera, Nicoletta A1 - Saracco, Paola A1 - Fasoli, Silvia A1 - Miano, Maurizio A1 - Girelli, Gabriella A1 - Barcellini, Wilma A1 - Zanella, Alberto A1 - Russo, Giovanna KW - Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune KW - Blood Transfusion KW - Child KW - Coombs Test KW - Disease Management KW - Hematology KW - Humans KW - Immunoglobulin M KW - Italy KW - Pediatrics KW - Societies, Medical KW - Steroids AB -

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia is an uncommon disorder to which paediatric haematology centres take a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The Red Cell Working Group of the Italian Association of Paediatric Onco-haematology (Associazione Italiana di Ematologia ed Oncologia Pediatrica, AIEOP) developed this document in order to collate expert opinions on the management of newly diagnosed childhood autoimmune haemolytic anaemia.The diagnostic process includes the direct and indirect antiglobulin tests; recommendations are given regarding further diagnostic tests, specifically in the cases that the direct and indirect antiglobulin tests are negative. Clear-cut definitions of clinical response are stated. Specific recommendations for treatment include: dosage of steroid therapy and tapering modality for warm autoimmune haemolytic anaemia; the choice of rituximab as first-line therapy for the rare primary transfusion-dependent cold autoimmune haemolytic anaemia; the indications for supportive therapy; the need for switching to second-line therapy. Each statement is provided with a score expressing the level of appropriateness and the agreement among participants.

VL - 15 IS - 3 U1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28151390?dopt=Abstract ER -