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Case Reports
. 2023 May 18;15(5):e39191.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.39191. eCollection 2023 May.

Vancomycin-Induced Hemolytic Anemia

Fakeha Siddiqui  1 , Ahmad Cheema  2 , Amir Kamran  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Vancomycin-Induced Hemolytic Anemia

Fakeha Siddiqui et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Drug-induced hemolytic anemia is rare and can occur either by an immune-mediated mechanism or a non-immune-mediated mechanism. The drugs most frequently associated with immune-mediated hemolysis are penicillins and cephalosporins. It is usually difficult to distinguish drug-induced hemolysis from other more common causes of hemolysis; therefore, a high index of clinical suspicion is required to make the diagnosis. In this case report, we present a case of vancomycin-induced immune hemolytic anemia in a 75-year-old patient who developed hemolytic anemia after starting vancomycin for joint infection. Hematological parameters improved after the discontinuation of vancomycin. Mechanism and management of drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia are also reviewed in this report.

Keywords: drug-induced hemolysis; hemolytic anemia; immune-hematology; immune-mediated hemolysis; vancomycin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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