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Positive direct antiglobulin test with Unasyn--a case report
C F Leong1, S K Cheong, S A Fadilah
1Department of Haematology and Transplantation, IKM, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Tenteram, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|November 10, 2000
Summary
A direct antiglobulin test (DAT) became positive in a patient treated with Unasyn, suggesting a drug-induced reaction. Stopping the antibiotic resolved the positive DAT, indicating Unasyn as the likely cause.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Clinical Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- A 56-year-old female patient with valvular heart disease and atrial fibrillation presented with suspected autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
- Initial clinical evaluation and laboratory tests did not confirm hemolytic anemia.
Observation:
- The patient exhibited a strongly positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) for anti-IgG.
- Mild anemia and reticulocytosis were noted, attributed to persistent hematuria.
- The positive DAT emerged after the initiation of Unasyn therapy.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of Unasyn was associated with a decrease in the positive DAT reactivity.
- The findings suggest that Unasyn therapy was the most probable cause of the positive DAT.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for Unasyn to cause a positive direct antiglobulin test.
- It underscores the importance of considering drug-induced immune responses in patients with unexplained positive DAT results.
- Further investigation into the mechanism of Unasyn-induced DAT positivity may be warranted.