Severe Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated red blood cell T-polyagglutination and plasma exchange strategy

Abstract

Objective To identify and propose blood transfusion suggestions for 3 children suspected to have red blood cell T polyagglutination. Methods According to the RBC reactions with phytohemagglutinin, adult serum and cord blood serum, aggregation test with polybrene reagent and MN antigen phenotype test were carried out on 3 children to confirm the presence of T polyagglutination. The donor serum with negative or weak reactions was selected by minor cross matching for the 3 children who needed therapeutic plasma exchange(TPE). Results Three cases of RBC T polyagglutination were caused by bacterial infection, with transient appearance of MN antigen; the samples were reactive to peanut agglutinin, soybean agglutinin, adult serum but nonreactive to cord blood serum, and didn′t aggregate after adding polybrene reagent. After receiving timely TPE, the T polyagglutination gradually disappeared. Conclusion Some bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, may cause polyagglutination of red blood cells. The patients with suspected T polyagglutination should be diagnosed in time. For T polyagglutination patients, the minor matched plasma should be used for avoiding the random plasma with anti-T antibody transfusion.

Keywords

• polyagglutinate red blood cells
• t polyagglutination
• transfusion
• therapeutic plasma exchange
• streptococcus