A case study of a child with chronic hemolytic anemia due to a Donath-Landsteiner positive, IgM anti-I autoantibody.

In children, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) is generally considered an acute self-limited autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by an IgG biphasic auto-anti-P antibody identified by the Donath-Landsteiner (D-L) test. We report a case of a 5-year-old female with a chronic hemolytic anemia. The etiology of the hemolysis appears to be an unusual D-L positive, IgM antibody with specificity for the I antigen. The clinical course is described and a discussion of PCH and the D-L antibody is presented. We also discuss intravenous immunoglobulin infusions as a therapy for children with this form of severe chronic autoimmune hemolytic anemia.