Evidence for an effect on erythrophilic IgG-globulin coat by the haemolytic process

Abstract

Erythrophilic IgG globulin coat (IgG E-C) is a fraction separated from serum IgG-globulin by cellulose phosphate column chromatography. It is easily eluted from the red blood cells and may be quantitated by a method described in this paper. This method was applied to 20 completely healthy newborns and to 81 newborns with severe jaundice of various aetiology (i.e. ABO isoimmunisation, haemolysis severe; ABO isoimmunisation, haemolysis mild; G-6-PD deficiency, haemolysis severe; G-6-PD deficiency, haemolysis mild; ABO incompatibility; Rh isoimmunisation and unknown aetiology). It was also applied to 19 children with favism and 10 age matched symptomless children with G-6-PD deficiency. IgG E-C mean values were higher in newborns with severe jaundice due to ABO isoimmunisation or G-6-PD deficiency as compared to those with jaundice of other aetiology or the healthy controls. The difference was even more pronounced in cases with severe haemolysis (0.01 > p > 0.001). They were also higher in children with G-6-PD deficiency only during the crisis of favism (0.01 > p > 0.001). It is concluded that IgG E-C increases during acute haemolysis.