Results obtained with the antiglobulin consumption test and investigations of autoantibody eluates in immunohematology.

Abstract

Abstract 1.1. The Antiglobulin Consumption test is described. Results obtained with this technique are shown. One hundred thirty-five sera were investigated using leukocytes as antigen. Depending on the severity of illness 45 to 71 per cent of the sera investigated of patients with idiopathic granulocytopenia and pancytopenia gave positive results, while sera of control patients and healthy individuals gave negative results. 2.2. Using platelets as antigen, we investigated 142 sera. Sixty-six per cent of the sera investigated of patients with idiopathic thrombopenic purpura gave positive results, while sera of control patients and of healthy individuals gave negative results. In comparative investigations of sera of patients with vascular purpura with platelets and blood vessel homogenizations as antigen the experiments with platelets gave negative results, whereas with blood vessel homogenizations in one-half of the sera investigated positive results were obtained. 3.3. An elution technique for the isolation of leukocyte and platelet antibodies is described. The serologic investigation results of the eluates, proving the appearance of the antibody in the eluates, are recorded. 4.4. Animal experiments are described in which antibody eluates were injected intravenously in rabbits. Depending on the cell specificity of the isolated antibodies, a significant diminution of leukocytes or platelets took place followed by a thrombocytopenia or leukopenia lasting several days. Injections of control eluates did not produce such effects. 5.5. The serum factor responsible for a positive Antiglobulin Consumption test, elutable from cells onto which it has become linked specifically and responsible for a cell-diminishing effect of the eluates in animal experiments, is characterized as a platelet or leukocyte autoantibody. Its significance for the development of thrombocytopenia and granulocytopenia, as well as autoaggression as a pathogenetic principle, is discussed.