Intracellular hemolysis and renal failure in a patient with T polyagglutination

A patient with postoperative intravascular hemolysis aggravated by transfusion with fresh whole blood and fresh plasma products had acute renal failure. Screening with Arachis hypogaea and Glycine soja lectins showed that his red cells were T-transformed. Only washed red cells were transfused subsequently, and no further fresh plasma products were given. All hemolysis ceased, the renal function returned to normal, and the T-polyagglutination as measured by lectin tests disappeared 4 months after surgery. Early diagnosis of polyagglutination using lectin screening tests is simple to perform, and will facilitate the immediate choice of the correct transfusion therapy, which in this case may have been life-saving.