Severe
hemolysis was observed in a
critically ill patient with
G6Pd deficiency where the causative trigger could not be identified. We describe one young patient with severe
hemolysis treated with two cycles of
plasmapheresis which proved to be an effective tool in the treatment. The patient presented with diffuse
pain abdomen,
vomiting, yellowish discoloration of sclera and skin and acute
breathlessness.
Hemoglobin 5.4 mg/dl and total (T) serum
bilirubin 17.08 mg/dl: Direct (D) 4.10 mg/dl and Indirect (I) 12.98 mg/dl. Subsequently patient started passing black color urine. As the patient developed severe
hemolysis and the trigger agent of
hemolysis was unknown, two cycles of
plasmapheresis were performed with the aim to remove unknown causative agent. Consequently no trace of
hemolysis was found and patient stabilized.
Plasmapheresis can be used to treat G6PD deficient patients with severe
hemolysis due to unidentified trigger agent.