APPLICATION OF A HIGH SENSITIVITY AGGREGATE-HAEMAGGLUTINATION TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS OF AUTOIMMUNE HEMOLYTIC-ANEMIA WITH A NEGATIVE DIRECT ANTIGLOBULIN-TEST

An aggregate-hemagglutination test was used for determining [human] anti-erythrocyte autoantibodies. The 1st antiglobulin variant of the test established the presence of antibodies in 33 cases with a negative direct Coombs'' test. Test II (anti-antiglobulin variant) was positive in 88 cases of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) that showed a negative direct Coombs'' test and a negative antiglobulin variant. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was revealed in the majority of AIHA patients. IgM was determined in 1 case of a symptomatic form associated with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. IgA was recorded in 3 cases with an idiopathic AIHA form and in 6 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Both types of L chains were found on the surface of erythrocytes in all cases of AIHA.