The predictive value of serum haptoglobin in hemolytic disease
A. Marchand, R. S. Galen and F. Van Lente
Using a rapid, highly sensitive immunoprecipitin nephelometric technique, a
retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical usefulness of
determining serum haptoglobin in the diagnosis of hemolysis. Haptoglobin
assays were performed shortly after admission in 100 patients with a
variety of hematologic and nonhematologic conditions and the results
correlated with the clinical diagnosis. An ad hoc boolean computer program
allowed for the separation of hemolytic from nonhemolytic disorders with a
haptoglobin limit of 25 mg/dL or less. The sensitivity and specificity of
the test are high (83% and 96%, respectively), providing 87% probability of
predicting hemolytic disease when the serum haptoglobin level falls below
this limit. These data support the routine use of serum haptoglobin
determinations in the diagnosis of hemolytic disease.
