Management of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia in low-to-middle income countries: current challenges and the way forward

Abstract

Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA) is a common term for several disorders that differ from one another in terms of aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment. Therapy is becoming increasingly differentiated and evidence-based, and several new established and investigational therapeutic approaches have appeared during recent years. While this development has resulted in therapeutic improvements, it also carries increased medical and financial requirements for optimal diagnosis, subgrouping, and individualization of therapy, including the use of more advanced laboratory tests and expensive drugs. In this brief Viewpoint review, we first summarize the diagnostic workup of AIHA subgroups and the respective therapies that are currently considered optimal. We then compare these principles with real-world data from India, the world's largest nation by population and a typical low-to-middle income country. We identify major deficiencies and limitations in general and laboratory resources, real-life diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic practices. Incomplete diagnostic workup, overuse of corticosteroids, lack of access to more specific treatments, and poor follow-up of patients are the rule more than exceptions. Although it may not seem realistic to resolve all challenges, we try to outline some ways towards an improved management of patients with AIHA.

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