Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia Associated with Autoanti-Ge

The first reported example of autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to an autoanti-Gerbich is described. The patient's red blood cells exhibited a strongly positive direct antiglobulin test with both IgG and complement antiglobulin reagents. The serum contained a potent antibody which produced agglutination of red blood cells as well as a positive indirect antiglobulin test. Treatment of the serum with 2-mercaptoethanol demonstrated that the antibody contained both IgG and IgM components. The serum antibody and the antibody eluted from the patient's red blood cells had anti-Gerbich specificity. The patient's cells typed as Gerbich-positive with saline-agglutinating anti-Gerbich sera. Of great interest was the fact that the patient's mother also has acquired immune hemolytic anemia, but the IgG antibody in her serum and eluted from her red blood cells had anti-pdl specificity.