Transfusions of Polymerized Bovine Hemoglobin in a Patient with Severe Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

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Abstract
Hemoglobin solutions have several potential advantages as substitutes for erythrocytes for transfusion. Hemoglobin solutions have a prolonged shelf life, are associated with a lower risk of transfusion reactions, and provide faster uptake of oxygen.1 Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC) have been studied primarily in patients with hemorrhage, but the absence of cell-surface antigens in these solutions suggests that they may have a role in the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemias. We report the use of a polymerized bovine hemoglobin, HBOC-201 (Hemopure, Biopure, Cambridge, Mass.), in a woman with severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia.