Haemolytic anaemia and abdominal pain – a cause not to be missed

Abstract

In January 2010, a 39-year-old Sri Lankan man, resident in Switzerland for 15 years, presented to the emergency department with constipation and abdominal pain from which he had suffered intermittently during the previous weeks. On physical examination, the abdomen was soft without tenderness or organomegaly. An abdominal X-ray confirmed stool retention without perforation or bowel obstruction. Laboratory testing revealed a haemoglobin level of 9.1 g dl -1 with normal indices and elevated reticulocytes.The blood film showed poikilocytosis, polychromasia, anisocytosis and basophilic stippling (Figure 1). Liver enzymes, bilirubin and LDH were mildly elevated. Haptoglobin was undetectable and the Coombs test was negative. A blood count performed in 2008 had been unremarkable. The diagnosis of a Coombs negative haemolytic anaemia was made. Despite further investigations, its origin remained unclear: infections, drugs, sickle cells or other haemoglobinopathies, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or pyruvate kinase deficiency and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia were ruled out. Because of the abdominal colics, porphyria testing was performed. Increased concentrations of coproporphyrine III, delta-aminolevulinic-acid (urine) and elevated free-and zinc-protoporphyrin (erythrocytes) were observed. These results were not consistent with classical porphyrias because, instead of a single enzyme, a number of enzymes were inhibited. As heavy metals are known to inhibit enzymes such as ALA dehydratase, coproporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase [1], a blood lead concentration was obtained and found to be 63.2 mg dl -1 (normal < 5 mg dl -1 ). Reasons for lead exposure such as occupation, food, environment or illicit drugs were not detected. Ceramics with lead-containing glazing were not used in the patient's household and none of the family members had elevated blood lead concentrations. On repeated questioning, the patient admitted having taken five ayurvedic pills per day for 2 months until the end of December 2009 to increase his fertility. The pills had been ordered from India and were labelled 'ashwagandha/ mucuna' , which are sold as aphrodisiacs. Left over pills were examined at the Official Food Law Enforcement Authority, where concentrations up to 7.3 mg of lead per pill and traces of arsenic, chromium and mercury were found. Treatment with the oral heavy metal chelator, dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), was started at a dose of 30 mg kg -1 bodyweight per day for 5 days followed by 20 mg kg -1 for 14 days. After 3 weeks, the blood lead concentration had decreased to 17 mg dl -1 ; anaemia and red blood cell morphology had normalized and the patient had become asymptomatic.The majority of cases of adult lead poisoning originate from workplace exposures. Inorganic lead is absorbed from the lungs, especially in adults, or from the gastrointestinal tract, which represents the predominant exposure route in children. Lead from 'herbal medicines' , especially from Asian countries, is an emerging source of heavy metal Figure...

Safety and analgesic properties of ethanolic extracts of <i>Toddalia asiatica</i> (L) Lam. (<i>rutaceae</i>) used for central and peripheral pain management among the east african ethnic communities

“…A case report by Martin et al ( 28 ) of a 39-year-old Sri Lankan man, resident in Switzerland for 15 years, best describes the toxic effects of herbal products on blood and biochemical parameters. The patient presented to the emergency department with constipation and abdominal pain from which he had suffered intermittently during the previous weeks.…”

The Importance of Characterizing the Hemoglobin Instability of New Variants: The Case of Hb Dompierre [β29(B11)Gly→Arg, HBB: c.88G>C]

“…The instability of Hb Dompierre may explain the acute clinical manifestations observed in the present patient and the presence of some hemolytic biological features. Abdominal pain may be attributable to hemolytic crises, but is usually encountered in cases of massive intravascular hemolysis [10]. Despite the family history of abdominal pain on the maternal side, this does not seem to be associated with the Hb variant, which was not inherited from the mother.…”

Lead Poisoning Induced Severe Hemolytic Anemia, Basophilic Stippling, Mimicking Erythrocyte Pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase Deficiency in Beta Thalassemia Minor

“…The patient underwent chelation therapy and has recovered clinically and biochemically [19]. In 2013, Muller et al reported Bhutanese traditional medicines was the rare cause of lead poisoning in Western countries [20].…”