Atypical presentation of acute phase, antibody‐induced haemolytic anaemia in an infant

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A case of warm antibody-induced hemolytic anemia (WAIHA) is described in which marked depression of red cell Rh antigen expression resulted in the patient presenting with severe anemia but a negative direct antiglobulin test (DAT). The serum contained potent IgG Rh antibodies. Unlike 2 previously reported cases (Koscielak; Veer et al) in which the diagnosis of WAIHA was established before the DAT became negative, this patient presented with negative serological findings during his 1st episode of anemia. As a result, the serum antibodies appeared to be allo- not autoimmune in nature and to be unrelated to the patient''s anemia. Confirmation of the autoimmune nature of the Rh antibodies was not possible until nearly 2 yr after the 1st episode of anemia.