Transient anti-Gya in an untransfused man. Serologic characteristics and cell survival study

Anti-Gya was identified in the serum of a 71-year-old untransfused man of German descent. The anti-Gya was reactive in the antiglobulin test phase and was of the IgG1 subclass. The patient's red cells typed as Gy(a-). A survival study using 10 ml of ABO compatible Gy(a+) 51Cr labelled red blood cells indicated normal survival up to six days. The anti-Gya diminished in reaction strength, and three months after the patient's initial hospitalization the antibody was no longer demonstrable by standard manual techniques. We conclude that intravascular hemolysis would have been unlikely if this patient were transfused with Gy(a+) cells. However, due to the possibility of a delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction, Gy(a+) cells would have been given only if Gy(a-) cells were not available and the patient's red blood cell deficit were life-threatening.