Immunoglobulin-induced hemolysis, splenomegaly and inflammation in patients with antibody deficiencies

Federica Pulvirenti1, Guido Granata1, Gabriella Girelli2

  • 1a Centre for Primary Immune Deficiencies, Department of Molecular Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy.

IgG replacement for primary antibody deficiencies is a safe treatment administered to prevent recurrent infections and reduce mortality. Recently, several reports described acute hemolytic episodes following IgG administration due to a passive transfer of blood group alloantibodies, including anti-A, anti-B, as well as anti-Rh antibodies. Here, we reviewed and discussed the consequences of passively transferred RBCs antibodies. The chronic passive transfer of alloantibodies might also cause a subclinical condition due to a compensated extravascular chronic hemolysis with poorly understood consequences. This phenomenon might possibly represent an unrecognized cause of splenomegaly and might contribute to inflammation in patients with primary antibody deficiencies.

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