Donath-Landsteiner test

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Anti-P antibody

No presence of antibodies is normal.

Abnormal results indicate paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH), a disorder caused by the presence of an antibody to "P-antigen complex" on red blood cells. This antibody is also called Donath-Landsteiner antibody.

Reduced temperatures somehow cause the antibody to attach to the P-antigen on red blood cells. This causes destruction of red blood cells (complement-mediated hemolysis); and hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells) is excreted in the urine (see complement ).

PCH is an acquired syndrome. The appearance of the antibody has been associated with viral infections (for example, measles and mumps ) and with syphilis. However, in rare cases there is no apparent disease-related association.

Review Date: 07/29/2005
Reviewed By: William Matsui, M.D., Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.