autoimmune hemolytic anemia

noun

: anemia caused by the excessive destruction of red blood cells by autoantibodies

Splenomegaly is present in more than half the cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and this finding suggests that hemolysis has been occurring for weeks or even months.

—Ira A. Oliff and Carolyn C. Compton, The New England Journal of Medicine

Note: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia may take different forms based on whether it is caused by autoantibodies (such as IgG) that react with red blood cells at warm temperatures or by autoantibodies (such as cold agglutinins) that react with red blood cells at cold temperatures.