Erythromycin-induced immune hemolytic anemia.

Author(s): Nance SJ, Ladisch S, Williamson TL, Garratty G

Affiliation(s): American Red Cross Blood Services, Los Angeles-Orange Counties Region, Calif.

Publication date & source: 1988, Vox Sang., 55(4):233-6.

Publication type: Case Reports

A 3-year-old female receiving Pediazole (erythromycin ethylsuccinate and sulfisoxazole) for tonsillitis and otitis media developed severe hemolytic anemia. No serum drug-dependent antibodies could be demonstrated with an in vitro 'immune-complex' method using Pediazole, pure erythromycin ethylsuccinate or pure sulfisoxazole. However, a method using red cells coated with erythromycin base showed in vitro lysis of the erythromycin-coated red cells. This is only the second case of immune hemolytic anemia associated with erythromycin and the first where in vitro drug-dependent hemolysis was demonstrable.