A case of spur cell anemia with alcoholic liver cirrhosis successfully treated with flunarizine hydrochloride

Abstract

The patient was a 53-year-old woman who admitted to our department for a close examination for jaundice, and anemia. Through peritoneoscopic examination and liver biopsy, the liver surface pattern and histologic findings of liver specimen are compatible with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. An examination of the peripheral blood smear showed spur cell anemia. As a result of alcoholic liver cirrhosis complicated with spur cell anemia was diagnosed. The administration of 20 mg/day of flunarizine hydrochloride (anti calcium antagonist) resulted in an improvement of anemia and jaundice, with the disappearance of spur cells. Spur cell anemia often develops in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and associated with acute, accentuated hemolytic attacks. Its prognosis is believed to be poor and its therapeutic modality has not yet been established. The present case showed an improvement in anemia and jaundice following the administration of flunarizine hydrochloride. Thus it was concluded that this agent was effective in the treatment of spur cell anemia complicated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis in this case.