HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA IN VIRAL PNEUMONIA WITH HIGH COLD-AGGLUTININ TITER

Abstract

COLD AGGLUTININS occurring during the course of respiratory infections were first described by Clough and Richter 1 in 1918 and again in 1939 by Wheeler and associates. 2 However, it was not until 1943 that Peterson and co-workers 3 noted the association of cold agglutinins and primary atypical pneumonia. Since then, numerous such reports have appeared in the literature. The hemolytic properties of this agglutinin were first recognized by Salen 4 in 1935. Almost a decade later, reports appeared describing hemolytic anemia in the course of primary atypical pneumonia with high cold-agglutinin titers. 5 The exact mechanism of this hemolysis and the role played by mechanical trauma were investigated and demonstrated by Stats and his colleagues. 6 The purpose of this paper is to report a case of hemolytic anemia occurring in viral pneumonia with a high cold-agglutinin titer. REPORT OF CASE W. W., a 46-year-old Negro man, was admitted to Kings County Hospital on March