FATAL DISSEMINATED INTRAVASCULAR COAGULATION AND PULMONARY THROMBOSISFOLLOWING BLOOD-TRANSFUSION IN A PATIENT WITH SEVERE AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC-ANEMIA AND HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) has rarely been reporte d in association with human immunodeficiency (HIV) infection and never as a presenting manifestation. Similarly, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a very infrequent complication of HIV infection. Case Report: An unusual patient is described who at the time of presen tation with severe AIHA was found to be HIV positive. Shortly thereaft er, he developed DIC, pulmonary thrombi, and right heart failure that proved fatal, in spite of intensive supportive measures. Conclusion: A lthough the etiology of the DIC and pulmonary thrombi could not be est ablished, they are most likely related to aggressive transfusion thera py, with associated intravascular hemolysis.