Severe Hemolytic Anemia in an Adult Associated with Anti‐T

An adult woman hospitalized because of a stab wound suffered a severe hemolytic crisis during which she was found to be profoundly anemic. There was evidence of increased red blood cell fragility and extravascular hemolysis. Her cells, which were T‐activated, were agglutinated spontaneously in vitro by anti‐T in her own plasma. They were also agglutinated by some, but not all, human anti‐M and anti‐N sera, and were mildly aggregated by protamine sulphate. A normal amount of H antigen was present and no agglutination occurred in saline by incomplete Rh antibodies. The findings indicate that T‐activation was incomplete. It is suggested that the patient experienced a short episode of acquired autohemolytic anemia caused by the activity of her own anti‐T during a period when her normal enzyme‐inhibiting substances were either not present or had been rendered temporarily inactive. 1975 AABB