Coombs-Positive Hemolytic Anemia Caused by Penicillin Administration

Abstract

CIRCULATING antipenicillin antibody (CAPA) was first reported by Ley et al.1 During routine blood-banking procedures the serum of a prospective transfusion recipient was found to agglutinate an entire panel of erythrocytes that had been stored with penicillin as part of the preservative; erythrocytes from the same donors, when not exposed to penicillin, were not agglutinated by this serum. Ley and his co-workers1 and Watson, Joubert and Bennett,2 in tests on 2000 and 3000 unselected serums, respectively, found this antibody only in donors who had previously received penicillin. Although there is an increased incidence of the antibody in allergic persons3 4 5 6 7 8 it . . .