Background: Hyperhemolysis in sickle cell disease is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of transfusion.
Study design and methods: In this article we report a case of delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction with resultant hyperhemolysis triggered by an anti-IH autoantibody with alloantibody behavior.
Results: The anti-IH was reactive at room temperature as well as 37 °C, but only weakly reactive with autologous red blood cells. Initial cold agglutinin titer was 512. The profound, life-threatening, intravascular hemolysis was rapidly and dramatically reduced with the Complement 5 (C5) inhibitory antibody, eculizumab. The auto/allo cold agglutinin was subsequently suppressed with rituximab treatment.
Conclusions: Eculizumab, a potent C5 inhibitory antibody, can be a rapid and effective therapy for hyperhemolytic transfusion reactions when given in a sufficient dose to fully block the activation of complement C5.
© 2015 AABB.