An unusual autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with immunoblastic sarcoma

This report describes a patient with immunoblastic sarcoma and autoimmune hemolytic anemia with reticulocytopenia and red cell hypoplasia. Both IgG and IgM red cell autoantibodies were present in the patient's serum, and both antibodies had the uncommon specificity of anti-IT. This report appears to be the first to describe IgG auto anti-IT and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient who did not have Hodgkin's disease; the laboratory findings and clinical course are described. The reticulocytopenia and red cell hypoplasia may have been immunologically mediated. The patient responded to plasma exchange, corticosteroids, and chemotherapy.