Background: Cephalosporins are frequently associated with positive direct antiglobulin tests (DAT) and may rarely cause immune hemolytic anemia (IHA). We describe a patient who developed hemolytic anemia while she was receiving intravenous cefotetan.
Study design and methods: Immunohematologic studies of drug-dependent antibodies were performed by using cefotetan-treated red blood cells (RBCs) and untreated RBCs in the presence of cefotetan.
Results: The patient's serum contained antibodies that reacted with both drug-coated RBCs (adsorption mechanism) and with uncoated RBCs when cefotetan was added to the serum (immune complex mechanism). The prompt recognition of the problem and discontinuation of the drug prevented the onset of renal failure and rapidly resolved the hemolytic reaction.
Conclusion: Our report underlines the importance of close laboratory and immunohematologic monitoring of patients treated with cephalosporins in order to recognize swiftly any hemolytic reaction due to these antibiotics thus reducing the chance of serious sequelae.