A New Red Blood Cell Cold Autoantibody (Anti-Me)

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Abstract
A new red blood cell (RBC) cold autoantibody (anti‐Me) is presented which was detected in a patient with autoimmune hemolytic anemia of ‘cold type’ associated with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. The autoantibody was of the IgM (Kappa) class, had a moderate titer, and reacted with cord as well as with adult RBC. Its hemagglutinating activity against RBC was markedly increased in the presence of preheated human milk, but not in the presence of simple sugars or preheated casein. The data suggest that the antibody is directed against a new (glycolipid) antigen common to human RBC termed Me antigen (‘milk enhanced’).