Hydroxychloroquine in a G6PD-Deficient Patient with COVID-19 Complicated by Haemolytic Anaemia: Culprit or Innocent Bystander?

François Mastroianni; Vincent Colombie; Geraldine Claes; Axelle Gilles; Frédéric Vandergheynst; Sammy Place

doi:10.12890/2020_001875

Hydroxychloroquine in a G6PD-Deficient Patient with COVID-19 Complicated by Haemolytic Anaemia: Culprit or Innocent Bystander?

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2020 Aug 18;7(9):001875. doi: 10.12890/2020_001875. eCollection 2020.

Authors

François Mastroianni¹, Vincent Colombie¹, Geraldine Claes², Axelle Gilles², Frédéric Vandergheynst³, Sammy Place¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, EpiCURA Hospital, Hornu, Belgium.
² Department of Haematology, EpiCURA Hospital, Hornu, Belgium.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.

Abstract

Hydroxychloroquine has been used worldwide as a first-line treatment for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Little is known about COVID-19 and its effects on patients with congenital red blood cell disorders. We report a case of haemolytic anaemia in a 32-year-old patient and a fortuitous highlighting of G6PD deficiency. We reviewed the literature to assess the risk of hydroxychloroquine use in this context.

Learning points: A rapid drop in haemoglobin in COVID-19 patients should alert physicians to test for haemolytic anaemia and enzymopathies.Our review of the literature shows that use of hydroxychloroquine is safe in G6PD-deficient patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; G6PD deficiency; Haemolytic anaemia; SARS-CoV-2.