Autoimmune hemolytic anemia other imaging findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Shyam Patel [2]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Irfan Dotani

Overview

An echocardiogram can be done in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia to assess for high-output cardiac failure and to assess for iron overload.

An echocardiogram can be done in patients to assess for high-output cardiac failure and to assess for iron overload.

High-output cardiac failure:
- Echocardiogram will show elevated ejection fraction (typically greater than 70%) in the case of high-output cardiac failure.
- The reason for high cardiac output in patients with hemolytic anemia is that the heart must pump a larger stroke volume and must pump more quickly in order to compensate for the oxygen deficit from decreased hemoglobin.^[1]
Iron overload:
- Patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia who have high transfusion requirements will frequently develop iron overload. An echocardiogram can show diastolic dysfunction if there is significant iron deposition in the heart. Diastolic dysfunction results in the impaired filling and can eventually lead to decreased cardiac output.