The serology of autoimmune hemolytic disease; observations on forty-one patients.

Abstract

Introduction During the past 10 years new and improved serological techniques have permitted the demonstration and characterization of the antibodies of acquired hemolytic anemia even though little is known about their genesis. The antibodies of this disease syndrome resemble the isoantibodies evoked by incompatible transfusions and maternal-fetal incompatibility in many characteristics of serological behavior except for their unique property of autoactivity. Prior to the last decade serological demonstration of antibodies in acquired hemolytic anemia was possible only in unusual instances in which hemolysis occurred in vitro, since agglutination of red cells in saline media by these abnormal proteins is rarely if ever observed. When cold agglutinins were present in association with acquired hemolytic anemia, agglutination of the patients' red cells was frequently noted. However there was little evidence that these antibodies were the cause of the persistent abnormal destruction, since they were frequently present without causing hemolytic anemia and appeared