IMMUNOLOGICAL HEMOLYTIC-ANEMIA - AUTOIMMU NITY AND DRUG-RELATED IMMUNIZATION

The serological investigation of auto-immune hemolytic anemias based o n the direct antiglobulin test, the study of the serum andthe eluate a llows a classification of the auto-immune hemolytic anemia which is st ill valid and correlates well with the clinical features. The use of n ew techniques should incrase the sensitivity of the tests but also str ess the problem of the frontier between physiological and pathological states. The use of monoclonal antibodies of defined specificity would be an useful tool for the immunohematological classification of the a uto-immune hemolytic anemias. The addition of new therapeutical means should improve the prognosis of these anemias. The increasing consumpt ion of drugs and the development of the investigations of the adverse reactions including the hemolytic anemias have allowed the emergence o f new pathogenic concepts. The gravity of the clinical evolution of so me of these immune hemolytic anemias stress the necessity of an adequa te therapeutic survey and the development of new means of diagnostic. The clinicians should be aware of the possibility of cross reactivity for drug dependant antibodies with other components of related chimica l structure.