Deficiency of autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction in patients with idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Alterations in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (autologous MLR) have been reported in many autoimmune diseases and in diseases with a derangement of T regulatory function. We have studied autologous MLR in 10 patients with idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia (IAHA). All patients had decreased autologous MLR which averaged 4,106 +/- 1,332 cpm (SEM) compared to 12,153 +/- 4,166 cpm for simultaneously studied controls. A marked decrease in phytohemagglutinin response and an imbalance of T-cell subsets were also observed. These findings suggest a possible abnormality of T immunoregulatory function in IAHA patients.