Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Associated With Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the resultant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are associated with several hematologic abnormalities, including immune thrombocytopenia, antiphospholipid syndrome, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Initial case reports suggested immune dysregulation to be the underlying etiology of SARS-CoV-2-associated AIHA, as all reported cases involved patients with moderate to severe COVID-19, many of whom had underlying lymphoproliferative disorders. More recently, AIHA has been reported in patients with mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we detail a patient with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented with severe, symptomatic anemia. Workup was consistent with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (WAIHA) secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection.