Crohn's disease, vedolizumab and autoinmmune hemolytic anemia: coincidence or causality?

Abstract

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an autoimmune destruction of red blood cells, usually mediated by immunoglobulin G (IgG) and/or immunoglobulin M (IgM). We present the case of a 75-year-old woman diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD) who developed AIHA while receiving treatment with vedolizumab. We think that this report is important to add evidence of this possible association and most of all, underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in patients with severe anemia and IBD undergoing treatment with novel therapies.