Platelet and leukocyte antibodies in autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Platelet and leukocyte counts and leukocytotoxic and platelet antibodies were studied in 32 patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA). Leukopenia was present in 59.4%, thrombocytopenia in 59.4% and leuko-thrombocytopenia in 40.5% of the cases. Specific antibodies for granulocytes were found in 81.3%, platelet antibodies in 90.6%. The AHA, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia generally presented a dissociated evolution and a different response to immunosuppressive treatment. The leukopenia of 2 and the thrombocytopenia of 6 patients appeared at variable time intervals after the AHA or the detection of leukocyte and platelet antibodies. Thrombocytopenic purpura was present in 6 patients, and in 2 of these since infancy. AHA may thus be a comples autoimmune syndrome that may involve leukocytes and platelets as well as erythrocytes, with synthesis of autoantibodies specific for different blood cells.