Hemolytic Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Our “Gut” Tells Us to Blame the Drug

BACKGROUND: Several studies determined that autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare extraintestinal IBD manifestation, related to the underlying disease activity. However, evidence linking biologic therapy to AIHA is sparse. METHODS: This article reviews the evidence on the association of these clinical phenomena. RESULTS: There are two retrospective studies and a few case reports linking biologic therapies to AIHA. CONCLUSIONS: While some autoimmune phenomenon triggered by our biologic therapies have been well recognized, we do not find the evidence associating these therapies to AIHA sufficiently compelling.