Drug induced red blood cell autoantibodies co-developed with drug specific antibodies causing haemolytic anaemias

Four individuals with anti-glafenine, anti-latamoxef and anti-teniposide antibodies were found to have an associated red blood cell autoantibody. The two components could be separated by selective absorption and showed distinct time course patterns. In three patients a well-defined blood group antigen was recognized as the receptor for both auto- and drug specific antibodies. Similarities between this type of immune response to drugs and the well-known hapten and carrier specificities developed in animals immunized by hapten-carrier conjugates are discussed.