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Chokri Ben Lamine: Evans Syndrome Key Clinical Insights
Feb 16, 2026, 13:56

Chokri Ben Lamine: Evans Syndrome Key Clinical Insights

Chokri Ben Lamine, Adult Hematology and SCT Assistant Consultant at Oncology Center of Excellence at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, shared a post on X.

Evans Syndrome – High-Yield Tweet Pearls (Autoimmune hemolytic anemia with immune thrombocytopenia, with or without neutropenia)

  • Definition: Presence of at least two autoimmune cytopenias
  • Classic: AIHA and ITP
  • With or Without Autoimmune neutropenia
  • Can be simultaneous or sequential
  • Chronic and relapsing course common

Pathophysiology

  • Loss of immune tolerance
  • Autoantibodies against RBCs and platelets
  • Often polyclonal B-cell activation
  • T-reg dysfunction implicated
  • Secondary forms frequent

Secondary Causes (ALWAYS Screen)

  • SLE
  • CLL
  • CVID
  • ALPS
  • Lymphoma
  • Chronic infections (HIV, HCV)
  • CTD spectrum
  • Post-transplant immune dysregulation

Diagnosis

  • DAT positive (warm AIHA commonest)
  • Elevated LDH
  • Increased Indirect bilirubin
  • Reduced Haptoglobin
  • Reticulocytosis (unless marrow suppressed)
  • Isolated thrombocytopenia component
  • Bone marrow usually compensatory

Differential

  • TTP (schistocytes!)
  • DIC
  • Drug-induced cytopenia
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Hypersplenism

Treatment

  • First-line: Steroids
  • Prednisone 1–2 mg/kg
  • IVIG for severe thrombocytopenia
  • Transfuse RBCs if symptomatic
  • Platelets if life-threatening bleed

Second-Line

  • Rituximab (strong evidence)
  • Splenectomy (selected)
  • MMF
  • Azathioprine
  • Cyclosporine
  • Sirolimus (emerging data)
  • Thrombopoietin agonists in refractory ITP component

Severe Disease

  • Can progress to multi-lineage cytopenia
  • Infection risk high (from therapy and disease)
  • Monitor IgG levels
  • Vaccinate if planning splenectomy

Prognosis

  • Chronic relapsing pattern typical
  • Secondary forms have worse outcome
  • Mortality mainly from infection or bleeding
  • Early recognition and secondary workup critical

MCQ

Key diagnostic clue in Evans syndrome?

  1. Schistocytes
  2. DAT positive and thrombocytopenia
  3. Severe coagulopathy
  4. Pancytopenia with hypocellular marrow

Answer: B

OSCE Scenario

35-year-old with fatigue and petechiae

Hb 7 g/dL, Platelets 18 ×10⁹/L

DAT positive

  • Start steroids immediately
  • Screen for SLE/CLL/HIV
  • Consider IVIG if bleeding
  • Plan rituximab if steroid-refractory

Bottom Line

  • Evans: autoimmune multi-lineage cytopenia
  • Treat aggressively
  • Always search for secondary cause”

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