Heinz body hemolytic anemia

Abstract

Anemia is a common finding in our population. Females are highly predisposed to develop anemia. Evaluation of anemia due to a single cause may be straightforward in most of the situations, however rare causes cannot be ruled out. In this case report, we present to you a case of a 35-year-old female who came with complaints of breathlessness. On further evaluation, she had pallor, icterus, and mild splenomegaly. Her hemoglobin (Hb) was later found to be 8.1 g/dl, pyruvate kinase activity was normal, normal liver enzymes, Heinz body positive, and elevated retics count. Thus, she was found to have a rare form of anemia, i.e., Heinz body hemolytic anemia. She was advised for splenectomy and started on medications. Following the procedure, her Hb started to rise to 9.6 g/dl and reached to 13.8 in the following months.