Introduction:

autoimmune hemolytic anemia is produced by antibodies that react with the patient's own erythrocytes provable through the positivity of the antiglobulin test or direct Coombs test. The classification of the disease is based on two fundamental parameters: its etiology and the thermal characteristics of the functioning of the auto antibodies accounts.

Objective:

to update scientific information on the causes and pathophysiological autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Methods:

a review of the main textbooks and the most recent articles published in the main hematological and immunological journals was carried out, bringing together the knowledge to achieve a practical guide to the diagnosis of this disease.

Discussion:

due to the fact that there is a wide range of protocols for its diagnosis, based on parameters that do not always coincide, a methodology is presented for the work of physicians who treat patients with different types of autoimmune hemolytic anemia based on knowledge about the causes and the pathophysiological characteristics of this disease.

Conclusions:

understanding the physiopathology and classification criteria of autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a requirement for the diagnosis of this disorder and the use of new therapeutic options in the management of these patients.

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