On the specific cold-agglutinin, found in a particular case of blood-group B

Abstract

The present paper deals with the characteristics of cold-agglutinin, found in a particular case of blood-group B. The case was noted at the time of cross-match test, when its serum showed pan-agglutination to all groups of tested red cells, including group B. At room temperature, its serum agglutinated all types of human red cells tested. At 20°C, the serum agglutinated its own red cells and the reaction disappeared at 37°C. The reaction however, re-appeared when these sets of test-tubes were cooled down to 20°C. Thus the reversibllity of the reaction was apparent. The colder the temperature, the higher the agglutinin titer. With group B and O cells, titers of 64 were obtained at 0°C and at 5°C, titers of 16, 8, 4 and 2 were obtained at 10°C, 15°C, 20°C and 25°C, respectively. At 37°C, no reaction occurred. Once the agglutinins were consumed in the cold agglutination, the supernatant showed normal reactibility in cross-match tests. The absorbed agglutinins were eluted again from red cells with saline solution at high temperature. The agglutinin titer was fairly stable. It did not decrease even after 30 days in an icebox. The agglutinin was resistant to the heating at 60°C for 30 days, but not at 65°C. Normal specimens of group B tested for the control showed titers of cold-agglutinin raging from 1 to 16, and their average was 5. None of the control reacted at 20°C. The authors discussed the possibility of finding out such particular specimens, at the time of cross-match tests. © 1957, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.