Haemolysis and Reversible Agglutination of Trypsinized Normal Red Cells by a Normal Human Serum

Abstract

The serum of a woman aged 72 was found to agglutinate, to hemolyze, and to sensitize trypsinized normal red cells (T.N.C.) to antiglobulin serum. The factor was thermolabile. The agglutination was reversible, being accelerated by the presence of normal human serum. The serum failed to agglutinate vibrio-treated or periodate-treated normal red cells to a higher titer than did normal sera. When T.N.C. agglutinated by patient''s serum was allowed to disperse by further incubation and then washed, the cells were strongly agglutinated by antiglobulin serum, with or without addition of gamma globulin.