Beate Mayer

Drug induced immune haemolytic anaemia in the Berlin Case-Control Surveillance Study.

Drug‐induced immune haemolytic anaemia is a rare but serious condition. This study investigated the possibility of drug aetiology of immune haemolytic anaemia (IHA) in 134 patients with new onset of IHA who were identified in the Berlin Case‐Control Surveillance Study between 2000 and 2009. Single drugs related to IHA in three or more patients and assessed more than once as a certain or probable cause of IHA in a standardized causality assessment included diclofenac, fludarabine, oxaliplatin, ceftriaxone and piperacillin. In a case‐control study including all 124 IHA cases developed in outpatient care and 731 controls, significantly increased odds ratios (OR) were observed for beta‐lactam antibiotics (OR = 8·8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3·2–25·2), cotrimoxazole (OR = 6·5; CI 1·1–37·9), ciprofloxacin (OR = 6·9, CI 1·3–38·5), fludarabine (OR = 22·2; CI: 2·8–454·5) and lorazepam (OR = 5·3; CI: 1·2–21·2). Excluding new onset cases with a chronic IHA disease course, an increased risk became also apparent for diclofenac with an OR of 3·1 (CI 1·3–7·0). This is the first case‐control study investigating drugs as risk factors for IHA. It corroborates an increased risk for several drugs that have been implicated as a cause of IHA in the standardized causality assessment of individual cases.

Mixed‐type autoimmune hemolytic anemia: differential diagnosis and a critical review of reported cases

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is usually classified as either warm or cold type. During the past few decades, mixed types (Mxs) have also been described in a number of cases (6%‐8% of AIHA), often without serologic data to support the diagnosis. In this study, we demonstrate that the incidence of Mx AIHA in our institution is extremely rare.

Iron supplementation and 2-unit red blood cell apheresis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND:  The benefits of 2‐unit red blood cell (RBC) apheresis are evident, but iron depletion may be a limiting factor in using this technology. Regular iron supplementation may allow a better utilization of this technique.

Piperacillin-induced immune hemolysis: new cases and a concise review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: In this study, the data of eight new patients in conjunction with previously reported cases with piperacillin‐induced immune hemolytic anemia (PIHA) are described.

Association between alloantibody specificity and autoantibodies to red blood cells

BACKGROUND: Alloantibodies (ALLOs) to red blood cells (RBCs) are frequently associated with autoantibodies (AABs). An association between ALLO specificity and AABs has not yet been described.

Variability of Findings in Drug-Induced Immune Haemolytic Anaemia: Experience over 20 Years in a Single Centre

Background: Drug-induced immune haemolytic anaemia (DIHA) is difficult to diagnose, and its true incidence remains obscure. Here, we present cases of DIHA identified at our institute over the last two decades. Methods: Serological tests were performed according to standard procedures. Detection of drug-dependent antibodies was performed in the presence and absence of the relevant drug and/or their ex vivo antigens. Results: Over the last 20 years, 73 patients have been identified with DIHA in our institute, which was related to 15 different drugs. The most common single drugs identified were diclofenac (n = 23), piperacillin (n = 13), ceftriaxone (n = 12) and oxaliplatin (n = 10). As far as data were available, haemolysis was acute in all patients, and signs of intravascular haemolysis were present in 90% of the cases. Haemolysis resulted in death in 17 patients (23%). The remaining patients recovered, but haemolysis was complicated by transitory renal and/or liver failure or shock in 11 patients. Upon initial evaluation, the antibody screening test was positive in 36 cases. A positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) at least with anti-C3d was found in 65 cases, with anti-IgG only in 6 cases, and with anti-IgA only in 1 case. Conclusion: DIHA is a rare but potentially life-threatening disorder that should be considered if a patient develops haemolysis under drug treatment. The main serological finding is a positive DAT, primarily with anti-C3d.

New antigen in the Dombrock blood group system, DOYA, ablates expression of Doa and weakens expression of Hy, Joa, and Gya antigens

BACKGROUND: The Dombrock (Do) blood group system consists of five distinct antigens: Doa, Dob, Gya, Hy, and Joa. Our finding of a patient whose plasma contained a Do‐related alloantibody suggested the presence of a sixth antigen.

Precautions surrounding blood transfusion in autoimmune haemolytic anaemias are overestimated.

BACKGROUND It is very evident that many precautions are taken regarding transfusion of red blood cells in patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia. Frequently, considerable efforts are made to examine the indication and serological compatibility prior to transfusion in such patients. However, at times, this may unnecessarily jeopardize patients who urgently require a red blood cell transfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with warm-type autoimmune haemolytic anaemia were included in this study. All patients had reactive serum autoantibodies and required blood transfusion. Standard serological assays were employed for the detection and characterization of antibodies to red blood cells. RESULTS A positive direct antiglobulin test was observed in all 36 patients, in addition to detectable antibodies in both the eluate and serum. Significant alloantibodies were detected in the serum samples of three patients (anti-c, anti-JK(a), and anti-E). In 32 patients, red blood cell transfusion was administered with no significant haemolytic transfusion reactions due to auto- and/or allo-antibodies. Due to overestimation of positive cross-matches three patients received no transfusion or delayed transfusion and died, and one patient died due to unrecognised blood loss and anaemia which was attributed to an ineffective red blood cell transfusion. DISCUSSION Many of the reported recommendations regarding transfusion of red blood cells in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia are highly questionable, and positive serological cross-matches should not result in a delay or refusal of necessary blood transfusions.

Lethal autoimmune hemagglutination due to an immunoglobulin A autoagglutinin with Band 3 specificity

We describe a patient with a high‐titer warm immunoglobulin (Ig)A autoantibody resulting in death due to hemagglutination rather than to hemolysis.

Intravascular immune hemolysis caused by the contrast medium iomeprol.

Immune‐mediated hemolysis is not included in the list of adverse reactions related to contrast medium (CM). Here, we report on a patient who developed immune hemolytic anemia (IHA) related to iomeprol, a nonionic CM.