title: Formaldehyde-related antibodies in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: In a study of anti-N-like antibodies, we tested sera from 93 hemodialysis patients for hemagglutination reactions with untreated and formaldehyde-treated reagent red blood cells. Six of 22 sera from patients who had been dialyzed with formaldehyde-sterilized membranes had anti-N-like activity and 20 (91%) specifically agglutinated formaldehyde-treated red blood cells. Sera from 71 patients dialyzed with disposable membranes neither had anti-N-like activity nor agglutinated formaldehyde-treated red blood cells. The agglutination of formaldehyde-treated red blood cells by sera from hemodialysis patients was unrelated to MNU phenotypes and, therefore, identified a second serologic specificity, provisionally termed "anti-formaldehyde." "Anti-formaldehyde" was absorbed by and eluted from NN red blood cells as well as from formaldehyde-treated red blood cells regardless of MNU phenotype. All eluates and sera containing anti-N-like activity also agglutinated formaldehyde-treated red blood cells, typically after the addition of anti-human serum. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that anti-N-like reactions of hemodialysis patients' sera represent cross reactions of formaldehyde related antibodies with N antigens of normal red blood cells.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000906:Antibodies; D003298:Coombs Test; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010641:Phenotype; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D037102:Lectins; D008951:MNSs Blood-Group System; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D005557:Formaldehyde