Acute hemolysis in association with hepatitis B infection in a child with beta-thalassemia trait.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia may occur in the course of some viral diseases such as Coxsackie virus, cytomegalovirus, Epstein Barr virus, Influenza A, herpes simplex virus, and rarely hepatitis B virus infection. The role of being heterozygous for beta-thalassemia in hemolysis during acute viral hepatitis is not known. In this report, we present an eight-year-old boy with jaundice and anemia. The diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection and hemolytic anemia were made on the basis of physical and laboratory findings. A hemoglobin electrophoresis revealed that the child was heterozygous for beta-thalassemia. No specific etiology could be found for hemolytic anemia. It remained unclear whether hemolytic anemia in this patient was merely a coincidental finding or whether hepatitis B virus infection and beta-thalassemia trait had played a role in causing hemolysis.
Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara.
A
A
Gürgey
A
A
Yüce
N
N
Ozbek
N
N
Koçak
D000208:Acute Disease; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D006461:Hemolysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology