<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Although most warm red blood cell (RBC) autoantibodies react broadly with panel cells in addition to the patient’s own RBCs, occasionally an autoantibody with specificity for a specific blood group antigen is encountered. Rare cases of warm autoantibodies with specificity for the Kpb antigen of the Kell blood group system have been described. We report a pediatric transplant recipient with anemia, immune-mediated hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and a warm autoantibody with apparent anti-Kpb specificity. The patient’s autoimmune anemia and thrombocytopenia responded well to discontinuing the immunosuppressant tacrolimus, transfusions with Kp(b–) RBCs, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, with disappearance of the pathologic antibody. During the autoimmune hemolysis, the patient’s RBCs did not react with antisera specific for Kpb. However, repeat testing of the patient’s RBCs with Kpb-specific antisera 15 months after the resolution of hemolysis showed reactivity, indicating that the RBC autoantibody was associated with a transient disappearance of the Kpb antigen. <italic><bold>Immunohematology</bold></italic><bold>2014;30:14–17.</bold></abstract>

Although most warm red blood cell (RBC) autoantibodies react broadly with panel cells in addition to the patient’s own RBCs, occasionally an autoantibody with specificity for a specific blood group antigen is encountered. Rare cases of warm autoantibodies with specificity for the Kpb antigen of the Kell blood group system have been described. We report a pediatric transplant recipient with anemia, immune-mediated hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and a warm autoantibody with apparent anti-Kpb specificity. The patient’s autoimmune anemia and thrombocytopenia responded well to discontinuing the immunosuppressant tacrolimus, transfusions with Kp(b–) RBCs, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, with disappearance of the pathologic antibody. During the autoimmune hemolysis, the patient’s RBCs did not react with antisera specific for Kpb. However, repeat testing of the patient’s RBCs with Kpb-specific antisera 15 months after the resolution of hemolysis showed reactivity, indicating that the RBC autoantibody was associated with a transient disappearance of the Kpb antigen. Immunohematology2014;30:14–17.

Evans syndrome in a pediatric liver transplant recipient with an autoantibody with apparent specificity for the KEL4 (Kpb) antigen

Immunohematology

Evans syndrome in a pediatric liver transplant recipient with an autoantibody with apparent specificity for the KEL4 (Kp) antigen

Although most warm red blood cell (RBC) autoantibodies react broadly with panel cells in addition to the patient’s own RBCs, occasionally an autoantibody with...

Evans syndrome in a pediatric liver transplant recipient with an autoantibody with apparent specificity for the KEL4 (Kp^b) antigen

Article Category: Case Report

Published Online: Oct 29, 2019

Page range: 14 - 17

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21307/immunohematology-2019-093

Keywords
autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Kell blood group, Evans syndrome

© 2014 S.A. Koepsell et al., published by Sciendo