IMMUNOLOGIC REACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ANEMIA, THROMBOCYTOPENIA, AND COAGULOPATHY IN

Rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense developed anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hypocomplementemia. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and sharp reductions in parasitemia were associ- ated with elevated titers of cold-active hemagglutinin, antibody to fibrinogen/fibrin-related products, and immunoconglutinin. Depletion of lytic complement, prolonged partial thromboplastin times, and presence of fibrin monomers in the blood occurred at the time anemia and significant elevations in precipitable immune complexes were observed. Terminally, consumption of immunologic factors coincided with ac- celerated partial thromboplastin times. At death, convulsions and hemoptysis with labored breathing suggested that the animals died of respiratory failure and that disseminated intravascular coagulation may have occurred. It is suggested that microthrombiosis might have resulted from the immunologic interaction of complex-coated blood cells with immunoconglutinin and contributed to the terminal disease signs. In a previous communication, we associ- ated anemia, splenomegaly, and glomerulo- nephritis in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense to the presence of anti- body against fibrinogen/fibrin-related prod- ucts (Anti-F) and antibody to the third component of fixed complement or immuno- conglutinin (IK). In addition to the above disease signs, in vivo and in vitro clotting ab- normalities were observed and the rats ap- peared to die of shock with pulmonary in- volvement. Evidence was presented indicating that soluble immune complexes of Anti-F, fi- brinogen/fibrin-related products (FRP), com-