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Unexpected outcome (positive or negative) including adverse drug reactions
Case report
Haemolytic anaemia: a consequence of COVID-19
  1. Memoona Jawed1,2,
  2. Elizabeth Hart3 and
  3. Malik Saeed4
  1. 1Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
  2. 2Acute Medicine, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
  3. 3Acute Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
  4. 4Haematology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Memoona Jawed; memoona.jawed{at}nuh.nhs.uk

Abstract

A man in his early 50s presented with jaundice, mild shortness of breath on exertion and dark urine. He had had coryzal symptoms 2 weeks prior to admission. Medical history included obstructive sleep apnoea and hypertension. His initial blood tests showed a mild hyperbilirubinaemia and acute kidney injury stage 1. Chest X-ray and CT pulmonary angiogram were negative for features suggestive of COVID-19. He later developed a drop in haemoglobin and repeat bloods showed markedly raised lactate dehydrogenase and positive direct antiglobulin test. These results were felt to be consistent with a haemolytic anaemia. A nasopharyngeal swab came back positive for COVID-19. We suspect the cause of his symptoms was an autoimmune haemolytic anaemia secondary to COVID-19 which has recently been described in European cohorts.

  • haematology (incl blood transfusion)
  • infections

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-238118

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MJ has written the initial case report and literature review. EH has reviewed and edited the case report. MS has reviewed it from haematolgy perspective.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.