Autoimmune hemolytic anemia. 2. Drug-induced type.

A variety of commonly prescribed drugs can produce a positive direct antiglobulin test, but the incidence of actual drug-induced hemolytic anemia is low. Of the four mechanisms which may be responsible, only one involves autoantibody production; the others include drug-RBC interaction of the hapten type, immune complex formation, and direct alteration of the RBC membrane.