Apropos of 2 cases of hemolytic anemia in mycoplasma pneumonia

The authors present 2 cases of mycoplasmal pneumonia associated with severe haemolysis. Haemolytic anaemia is a well-known and habitually mild complication of the disease. It is related to a peak of cold agglutinins, which are antibodies that agglutinate red blood cells usually at low temperatures but sometimes at 37 degrees C when they are present in high concentrations. The pathogenesis of cold agglutinins is thought to involve the secretion of peroxides by Mycoplasma pneumoniae with alteration of ed cell antigens which become immunogenic.