Prevalence, Nature and Identification of Leukocyte Antibodies

INCREASING awareness of the role of autoimmune mechanisms in the production of certain types of idiopathic hemolytic anemia1 2 3 and thrombopenic purpura4 , 5 has stimulated work on the possible relation of idiopathic leukopenia to autoantibody formation. Certain features of the clinical syndromes have points of similarity. Moreover, animal experiments have suggested the existence of leukocyte antibodies and antigenicity since the early work of Bordet. More recently, Doan6 (1926) presented evidence that leukocyte incompatibility was sometimes responsible for febrile and urticarial transfusion reactions. He named the antileukocyte factor leukotoxin.‡The first reports on the possible role of such substances in the development of . . .