Chronic severe hemolytic anemia from phenazopyridine.

Abstract

Letters15 January 1995Chronic Severe Hemolytic Anemia from PhenazopyridineE. Peter GaborE. Peter GaborSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-122-2-199501150-00024 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Thomas and colleagues [1] recently described chronic severe hemolytic anemia related to phenazopyridine. We also previously reported [2] the potent oxidative hemolytic effect of phenazopyridine (Pyridium).Our patient with a normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase level developed severe Heinz-body hemolytic anemia and developed sulfhemoglobinemia after prolonged treatment with phenazopyridine. The patient had a nadir hemoglobin level of 7.3 g/dL a reticulocyte count of 13%, and Heinz bodies in 20% of her erythrocytes.In vitro studies with erythrocytes deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase showed that phenazopyridine has 50% of the oxidant capacity of the benchmark (standard) compound acetylphenyl hydrazine [2]. It ...