B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia is Complicated by Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Anti-phospholipid Syndrome

Abstract

We describe a rare case of a 68-year-old man with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) who developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). On admission, he was diagnosed as having B-CLL and AIHA on the basis of CD5-positive B-lymphocytes infiltrated into his bone marrow and a positive Coombs test, respectively. Although the symptoms of B-CLL and AIHA were improved by chemotherapy, he developed deep-vein thrombosis, which was probably caused by a lupus anticoagulant. It was interesting that the thrombosis due to APS occurred following a decrease of hemolysis from AIHA after intensive chemotherapy.