Only one patient has been reported to have an unexplained hemolytic anemia in the presence of Legionella pneumophila infection (1). We report a case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia consequent to L. pneumophila pneumonitis.
A 44-year-old man presented on 15 November 1981 with a temperature of 40°C, chills, myalgia, and productive cough of 6 days' duration. He had been treated with cephalexin, triprolidine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, and acetaminophen without improvement. Findings on physical examination included a rectal temperature of 37.4°C, mild scleral icterus and decreased breath sounds in the right base with dullness to percussion, egophony, whispered pectoriloquy, and rales