SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE TO ALPHA-INTERFERON 2B IN A REFRACTORY IGM AUTOAGGLUTININ-MEDIATED HEMOLYTIC-ANEMIA

We describe the beneficial effect of recombinant alpha 2b interferon i n a woman with an idiopathic and refractory IgM-mediated autoimmune he molytic anemia due to low-titer, high-thermal-amplitude cold agglutini ns. The response was partial but sustained, 2 months after interruptio n of interferon, with hemoglobin concentrations ranging between 8.5 an d 10 g/dl. In the literature, such rarely encountered hemolyzing warm- reacting agglutinins are described as causing severe hemolysis with a frequently fatal clinical outcome.