Unraveling the Mystery: Late-Life Hemolytic Anemia with Blister Cells on Smear

Noorulain; Maliha Sumbul; Arif Hussain; Muhammad Nadeem

doi:10.70749/ijbr.v3i6.1411

Authors

Noorulain National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan.
Maliha Sumbul National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan.
Arif Hussain National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad Nadeem National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, Pakistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70749/ijbr.v3i6.1411

Keywords:

Enzymopathy, oxidative stress, blister cells, Heinz bodies

Abstract

In red cell disorder, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzymopathy. This enzymopathy leads to hemolysis of red cells under oxidative stress. This deficiency causes red cell hemolysis when exposed to certain drugs and infections. This Enzymopathy presents with different clinical presentations due to various genetic abnormalities involving the gene. In this case report, we describe the case of a 65-year-old male patient who was brought to the emergency department of our hospital with signs of shock and in a gasping condition. We found blister cells (3+) and Heinz bodies on peripheral smear examination. This case highlights the importance of considering red cell enzyme deficiencies in older populations with unexplained hemolysis.

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