Severe haemolytic anaemia due to cold anti-‘i’ antibodies associated with cytomegalovirus infection

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: A 66 year old patient with multiple myeloma and monoclonal cryoglobulinaemia who developed a severe haemolytic anaemia following a cytomegalovirus infection is reported. The presence of a high titre of anti-‘i’ cold antibody of IgM subclass is demonstrated. Anti-‘i’ antibody disappeared when complement-fixation antibody titres against cytomegalovirus decreased. Various pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of haemolytic anaemia associated with cytomegalovirus infection are discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first case described in the English language publications associating severe haemolytic anaemia with an anti-‘i’ antibody after a cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompromised patient.