Immune Hemolytic Anemias- Petz and Garratty

“Acquired Immune Hemolytic Anemias”
“Immune Hemolytic Anemias”

George Garratty (1935-2014) came to the United States in 1968, having previously worked in London with Sir John Dacie and Patrick Mollison. In San Francisco, he joined Dr. Lawrence Petz, whom he had met when Petz spent two years working with Dacie in London. They were soon two of the leading experts on hemolytic anemias and the antiglobulin test: Petz on the clinical side, Garratty on the serological aspects. The large number of specimens and cases referred to them only increased their expertise and renown. “Petz and Garratty” was as famous a pairing in blood group circles as “Race and Sanger” or “Morgan and Watkins.” Although they wrote in its preface that their 1984 book “Acquired Immune Hemolytic Anemias” was not intended to be a “tour de force”, it nonetheless quickly became a highly-regarded resource. A second edition in 2003 was renamed “Immune Hemolytic Anemias”. Expanded and rewritten, it addressed the full range of autoimmune and alloimmune immune hemolytic anemias, including hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn and hemolytic transfusion reactions. George Garratty, who later moved to Los Angeles and the American Red Cross, was especially noted for his investigations into drug-induced hemolytic anemias.