Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis
Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), is widely used in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC). While generally well-tolerated, infliximab is associated with rare but significant adverse effects, including autoimmune h...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1548321/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850228586108157952 |
|---|---|
| author | Gerolamo Bevivino Patrizio Scarozza Michela Di Fonzo Giulia Zerboni Federico Iacopini |
| author_facet | Gerolamo Bevivino Patrizio Scarozza Michela Di Fonzo Giulia Zerboni Federico Iacopini |
| author_sort | Gerolamo Bevivino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), is widely used in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC). While generally well-tolerated, infliximab is associated with rare but significant adverse effects, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). This report describes the case of a 54-year-old male diagnosed with UC, who developed hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab therapy after 1 year of treatment. During the infusion preceding the onset of anemia, the patient experienced a severe infusion reaction characterized by urticaria, bronchospasm, chills, fever, and pulsating headache. Laboratory findings confirmed hemolytic anemia with a positive direct and negative indirect Coombs tests. The patient responded well to corticosteroid therapy (prednisone at 1 mg/kg/day for 30 days) and stopping anti-TNF-α, with hemoglobin levels improving from 7.2 g/dL at presentation to 14.6 g/dL after 1 month. AIHA should be considered an uncommon but serious complication of infliximab therapy, necessitating careful monitoring, especially in patients treated for gastrointestinal indications. This case underscores the importance of recognizing and managing infusion-related complications of biologic therapies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf02d96db35e47b28068891a6ff592c4 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf02d96db35e47b28068891a6ff592c42025-08-20T02:04:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-03-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15483211548321Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitisGerolamo BevivinoPatrizio ScarozzaMichela Di FonzoGiulia ZerboniFederico IacopiniInfliximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), is widely used in treating inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC). While generally well-tolerated, infliximab is associated with rare but significant adverse effects, including autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). This report describes the case of a 54-year-old male diagnosed with UC, who developed hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab therapy after 1 year of treatment. During the infusion preceding the onset of anemia, the patient experienced a severe infusion reaction characterized by urticaria, bronchospasm, chills, fever, and pulsating headache. Laboratory findings confirmed hemolytic anemia with a positive direct and negative indirect Coombs tests. The patient responded well to corticosteroid therapy (prednisone at 1 mg/kg/day for 30 days) and stopping anti-TNF-α, with hemoglobin levels improving from 7.2 g/dL at presentation to 14.6 g/dL after 1 month. AIHA should be considered an uncommon but serious complication of infliximab therapy, necessitating careful monitoring, especially in patients treated for gastrointestinal indications. This case underscores the importance of recognizing and managing infusion-related complications of biologic therapies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1548321/fullinfliximabhemolytic anemiaulcerative colitisautoimmune disorderscase report |
| spellingShingle | Gerolamo Bevivino Patrizio Scarozza Michela Di Fonzo Giulia Zerboni Federico Iacopini Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis Frontiers in Medicine infliximab hemolytic anemia ulcerative colitis autoimmune disorders case report |
| title | Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis |
| title_full | Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis |
| title_fullStr | Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis |
| title_short | Case Report: Hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis |
| title_sort | case report hemolytic anemia secondary to infliximab treatment in a patient with ulcerative colitis |
| topic | infliximab hemolytic anemia ulcerative colitis autoimmune disorders case report |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1548321/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gerolamobevivino casereporthemolyticanemiasecondarytoinfliximabtreatmentinapatientwithulcerativecolitis AT patrizioscarozza casereporthemolyticanemiasecondarytoinfliximabtreatmentinapatientwithulcerativecolitis AT micheladifonzo casereporthemolyticanemiasecondarytoinfliximabtreatmentinapatientwithulcerativecolitis AT giuliazerboni casereporthemolyticanemiasecondarytoinfliximabtreatmentinapatientwithulcerativecolitis AT federicoiacopini casereporthemolyticanemiasecondarytoinfliximabtreatmentinapatientwithulcerativecolitis |