Abstract
Summary
1. Heparin was found to inhibit in vitro the agglutination of red blood cells in 3 consecutive cases of idiopathic acquired hemolytic anemia. 2. Following incubation of patients cells with heparin, the auto-agglutination disappeared. The Coombs reaction also became negative while the anticoagulant activity of heparin greatly diminished. The heparin tolerance, tested in the first 2 cases, was abnormally high. 3. No interaction in vitro was observed between heparin and iso-agglutinins. 4. The possible mechanism, specificity and clinical value of the reaction is discussed, and certain implications with respect to the clotting mechanism are pointed out.
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