Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with idiopathic hypereosinophilia

✍ Scribed by Massimo Arquati; Vincenzina Amodei; Paolo Foa; Alberto Tedeschi

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 136 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0361-8609
• DOI: 10.1002/ajh.2830490418

✦ Synopsis

changes in renal function. Proteinuria was reversible after withdrawal of the drug and was reproducible at reexposure. The extent of proteinuria was dose dependent. Renal biopsy revealed a (possibly pre-existing) minimal change glomerulonephritis. Uncovering of an underlying autoimmune defect by IFN seems an unlikely pathoetiologic mechanism, causing the observed renal functional impairment, since autoantibodies (ANA, autoantibodies against double-stranded DNA, RF, and ASL titer as well as CRP) were negative. Hyperuricemia as a causative agent was excluded, since serum uric acid levels were normal throughout the treatment period.

We conclude that IFN exhibits in rare instances a severe renal toxicity that may range from isolated proteinuria (as in our patient) to acute anuric renal failure [2]. Close monitoring of renal function during IFN therapy is warranted.