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. 2020 Aug 18;7(9):001875.
doi: 10.12890/2020_001875. eCollection 2020.

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

François Mastroianni  1 , Vincent Colombie  1 , Geraldine Claes  2 , Axelle Gilles  2 , Frédéric Vandergheynst  3 , Sammy Place  1
Affiliations

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

François Mastroianni et al. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interests: The Authors declare that there are no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Admission CAT scan showing signs of severe bilateral interstitial pneumonia suggesting COVID-19 infection
Figure 2
Figure 2
Evolution of haemoglobin over time
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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