SEVERE INTRAVASCULAR HEMOLYSIS WITH PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA

Intravascular hemolysis associated with serum IgM cold agglutinins is a recognized complication of pulmonary infection with Mycoplasma pneum oniae. However, the syndrome has not been recognized as a sequela of i nfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. We report what we believe repr esents the first case of pneumococcal pneumonia presenting with severe intravascular cold agglutinin-mediated hemolysis requiring intensive care admission and transfusion of multiple units of packed red blood c ells.