Multifactorial etiology of anemia in SIV-infected rhesus macaques: decreased BFU-E formation, serologic evidence of autoimmune hemolysis, and an exuberant erythropoietin response.
We attempted to define the etiology of anemia in SIV-infected rhesus macaques. Bone marrow culture showed significantly decreased (75% reduction) burst forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E) growth in end-stage SIV+ "sick" animals. Direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) were positive in nine of 35 SIV+ "well" and 14 of 14 SIV+ "sick" monkeys (0 of 25 control animals had positive DATs). In animals with a positive DAT, moderate to severe anemia was observed, as was increased LDH and spherocytosis. Erythropoietin was measured in four control, eight SIV+ "well" and five SIV+ "sick" animals with mean levels of 4.0, 15.4, and 1176 mU/mL (r = .94) in the three groups. These data suggest that the cause of anemia in the SIV-infected rhesus macaque is multifactorial, that there may be a defect in erythropoiesis, and that, serologically, an IgG mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia is also present.
Hillyer
C D
CD
Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30338.
Klumpp
S A
SA
Hall
J M
JM
Lackey
D A
DA
Ansari
A A
AA
McClure
H M
HM
D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D003114:Colony-Forming Units Assay; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology
D004921:Erythropoietin