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Lethal autoimmune hemagglutination due to an immunoglobulin A autoagglutinin with Band 3 specificity
Author(s) -
Salama Abdulgabar,
Janvier Daniel,
Mayer Beate,
Saison Carole,
Moscatelli Henriette,
Aucouturier Françoise,
Yilmaz Pinar,
Arnaud Lionel,
Wild Vanessa,
Knop Stefan,
Cartron JeanPierre
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
transfusion
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.045
H-Index - 132
eISSN - 1537-2995
pISSN - 0041-1132
DOI - 10.1111/trf.12638
Subject(s) - hemolysis , autoantibody , medicine , autoimmune hemolytic anemia , cold agglutinin , immunology , hemagglutination , antibody , serology , hemolytic anemia , pathology
Background We describe a patient with a high‐titer warm immunoglobulin ( Ig ) A autoantibody resulting in death due to hemagglutination rather than to hemolysis. Case Report A 47‐year‐old male patient presented with an intriguing pronounced vascular erythema of the skin. A livedo reticularis associated with cold agglutinin of high thermal amplitude was suspected. The patient's condition unexpectedly and abruptly deteriorated resulting in death 3 days after admission. Study Design and Methods Conventional serologic procedures and immunochemical methods were used. Results Serologic and immunochemical examinations revealed a warm IgA autoantibody of high titer with anti‐Band 3 specificity. Although the patient presented with severe anemia, only mild signs of hemolysis were observed, with no evidence of complement activation. The autopsy revealed an enormous accumulation of agglutinated red blood cells in liver and spleen and a B ‐cell lymphoma and cerebral edema. Thus, the patient's death was largely caused by hypoxia related to hemagglutination rather than to hemolysis and/or anemia per se. Conclusion Strongly hemagglutinating antibodies may not only cause immune hemolysis but also hypoxia due to intravascular hemagglutination.