Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia as Presentation of Celiac Disease

Abstract

Celiac disease is a multisystem disorder in children and adults; it is considered as one of the most important malabsorption syndromes related to an auto-immune mediated response to gluten-containing food in a genetically predisposed patient. The most common involved system is the Gastrointestinal tract. Association with other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus type 1 is well known but autoimmune mediated hemolytic anemia that responded to a gluten-free diet was interesting to be found.

A six years old male previously healthy child, presented with pallor and reduced activity, dark-colored urine, with clinical and laboratory features of hemolytic anemia, and multiple blood transfusions within a year of medical care-seeking to finally diagnosed with celiac disease and responded to a gluten-free diet of about 8 months now with no need of blood transfusion.