Erythrocyte Sensitization and Anemia Due to Isoantibodies in Lyophilized Pooled Plasma

EARLY in this century it was thought that the isoantibodies in group O blood were of no consequence to recipients of other blood groups. This soon was proved incorrect by reports of intravascular hemolysis following use of this blood in such a manner.1As a result, only group O bloods having low saline anti-A and anti-B titers (less than 1:50), low immune anti-A and anti-B titers (less than 1:20) or lacking hemolysins, or group O packed cells are acceptable for transfusion to patients of other blood groups.2 Not so well recognized is the danger of erythrocyte sensitization and destruction due to isoantibodies in pooled plasma. Such plasma pools are constituted by mixing plasma from donors of the various blood groups, thereby presumably neutralizing and diluting the isoantibodies. Such plasma was used extensively in World War II, with no reports of resultant hemolysis.3Shortly after the war, Ebert