A patient is admitted with chest pain and extreme shortness of breath. Patient history is unremarkable except for ingestion of oral cefoxitin for the past 4 days. A DAT profile is positive with polyspecific AHG, negative with anti-IgG, and positive with anti-C3. The hemoglobin is 8.0 gm/dl. Based on these results, what mechanism of drug-induced hemolysis is present?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) with polyspecific antihuman globulin (AHG) and anti-C3, but negative with anti-IgG, suggests an immune complex mechanism of drug-induced hemolysis. This pattern is indicative of the drug acting as a hapten, leading to the formation of immune complexes that activate complement, causing hemolysis.

A Patient Is Admitted with Chest Pain and Extreme Shortness