Has anyone else had both UC and Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)? I found out today that I have AIHA after both my hematologist and I thinking I had B-12 deficiency anemia. Since both are autoimmune diseases, I guess it makes sense that some people who had UC would develop AIHA. Unfortunately, the first line of treatment for AIHA is the dreaded Prednisone Dr. prescribed 20 mg of the stuff that I was hoping I'd never have to take again after my surgeries. Oh well, guess I just have to bite the bullet and take it. It won't be for the long term, only about 3 months to see if my AIHA responds. Anyway, I'll be interested to see if anyone else on this board has developed AIHA during or after having had UC/j-pouch surgeries.

It's not exactly the same thing, but when I first started taking 6MP for the UC, I developed a nasty combination of pneumonia, bone marrow suppression, and hemolytic anemia. I was in the hospital for a few weeks and they did administer IV steroids as part of the treatment. However, once I was discharged, the hemolytic anemia didn't reoccur.

Thanks, Michelle, for sharing your experience. That's interesting that the 6-MP caused hemolytic anemia. I was never on 6-MP, but I'm wondering if all the blood transfusions I got while in my UC flare confused my immune system into not knowing which blood cells were mine and which ones were foreign. Of course, it's a bit of a delayed reaction since the hemolytic anemia didn't happen until over two years after my last transfusion. Anyway, I'm glad your anemia responded to the steroids and did not recur. Thanks again!

Kris