[Immunoallergic intravascular hemolysis and tubulointerstitial nephritis due to penicillin G].

A 51-year old woman treated with high doses of penicillin G developed acute intravascular haemolysis and tubulointerstitial nephritis. Immunological investigations showed circulating immune complexes, decreased C3 and C4 components of complement, IgG deposits in the renal interstitium, positive direct Coombs test with anti-IgG sera and complement and circulating anti-penicillin antibodies demonstrated by indirect antiglobulin tests and IgG RAST. Plasma haemoglobin and anti-penicillin antibodies could be removed by an early exsanguino-transfusion. These findings suggest that the nephritis was due to immune complexes and the haemolysis, to a combined hapten-type and immune complex mechanism.