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ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS

  • Three mechanisms of drug-related immunologic injury to red cells are defined:

    — Hapten/drug adsorption involving drug-dependent antibodies

    — Ternary complex formation involving drug-dependent antibodies

    — Induction of autoantibodies that react with red cells in the absence of the inciting drug

  • Drug-related nonimmunologic protein adsorption may also result in a positive direct antiglobulin test without red cell injury.

  • Table 24–1 lists the drugs implicated in the production of a positive direct antiglobulin test and accelerated red cell destruction.

  • Table 24–2 summarizes the four mechanisms of drug-induced immune interaction with the red cell surface.

TABLE 24–1ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DRUGS AND POSITIVE DIRECT ANTIGLOBULIN TESTS*
TABLE 24–2MAJOR MECHANISMS OF DRUG-RELATED HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA AND POSITIVE DIRECT ANTIGLOBULIN TESTS

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