Direct Coombs antiglobulin reactions in Gambian children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria. I. Incidence and class specificity
Facer, C.A.; Bray, R.S.; Brown, J.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 35(1): 119-127
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 371880 Document Number: 140000
Gambian children with past or present P. falciparum malaria were investigated for the incidence of Coombs positivity using monospecific antisera. Approximately 50% were positive and the most frequent form of erythrocyte sensitization was with C3d d fragment of complement component 3 . Other specificities, EIg erythrocyte, immunoglobulin G, EIgGC3d and EIgGC4bC3bC3d were less common. E were never found sensitized with IgA or IgM. There was no correlation between a positive test and age, tribal status or level of parasitemia at presentation, although a positive test was often found associated with anemia. Sensitized E were present in the circulation for a period of up to 6 wk following initial observation. The mechanism of E sensitization is not known, but the results suggest a Type III complex-mediated hypersensitivity involving parasite antigen-antibody complexes. These reactions may contribute to the pathogenesis of anemia in P. falciparum malaria.