Autoimmune anaemias are a disease entity based on an abnormal functioning of the immune system. This abnormal response involves the destruction of the body's own cells as a result of misrecognition of an antigen. Autoimmune anaemias are not common, with an estimated incidence of approximately 1 to 3 cases/100,000 population/year. Clinically, they manifest as jaundice, dark-coloured urine and typical symptoms of hypoxia due to a reduction in red blood cells.