Anemia immunohemolytic

The answer is a. (Katzung, p 162.) Many drugs can cause an immunohemolytic anemia. Methyldopa may cause a positive Coombs test in as many as 20% of patients, along with hemolytic anemia. Other drugs with similar actions on red blood cells are penicillins, quinidine, procainamide, and sulfonamides. These form a stable or unstable hapten on the red cell surface, which induces an immune reaction I immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies] and leads to dissolution of the membrane. 

Funicella T, Weinger RS, Moake JL, Spruell M, Rossen RD. Penicillin-induced immunohemolytic anemia associated with circulating immune complexes. Am J Hematol 1977 3 219-23. 

The nurse is caring for a client newly diagnosed with immunohemolytic anemia. Which medication should the nurse anticipate the HCP ordering ... 

In immunohemolytic anemias, the client s own immune system attacks and destroys red blood cells. The client does not have leukopenia (low white blood cells) for which Neupogen is administered. 

Leucovorin is administered in megaloblastic anemia or as rescue factors for methotrexate toxicity, not for immunohemolytic anemias. 

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