Penicillin-induced immunohemolytic anemia associated with circulating immune complexes.
Eleven days after administration of multiple penicillin analogs, a 55-year-old female developed a Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia. The patient's erythrocytes were coated with IgG, complement components (C4/C3) and her serum contained elevated 125I-Clq binding activity (a measure of the presence of immune complexes). Her serum, in the presence of fresh complement and penicillin, induced complement sensitization of normal erythrocytes. Immune complex-mediated complement activation and the haptene type of erythrocyte sensitization accounted for accelerated red blood cell destruction in this patient.
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D003298:Coombs Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000009:adverse effects; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D010406:Penicillins; D010068:Oxacillin