Fatal delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction due to anti-c + E.

A 72-year-old man with a peptic ulcer received seven units of apparently compatible red blood cells. Six days after the last unit, he had a hemolytic transfusion reaction manifested by high fever, marked fall in hematocrit, hemoglobinemia, hemoglobinuria, severe bilirubinemia and oliguria. He went on to become uremic, hyperkalemic, anuric and died five days later. Serologic studies showed that the donor and recipient bloods were completely compatible prior to the transfusions and that unexpected antibodies were not detected. The anamnestic response from donor antigens was precipitous even after a latent period of six days.