Abstract
A case of nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia associated with abnormalities in membrane lipids was described. The 19-year-old boy was consulted because of jaundice and left hypochondralgia. Splenectomy had been performed two years before. On admission, hemolytic anemia was evident, having 12.3g/dl of hemoglobin, 208‰ of reticulocytes, indirect bilirubin of 5.5mg/dl and the presence of target red cells in peripheral blood smears. The patient's red cells had an absolute increase in erythrocyte phosphatidylcholine. There was no evidence for abnormalities in glycolytic enzymes, hemoglobin analysis, liver function test or plasma lipids. Osmotic fragility was decreased, Coombs' test was negative and 51Cr labeled red cell survival was 6.2 days. It was concluded that the hemolytic anemia was due to an intrinsic red cell defect, which was elevated phosphatidylcholine in red cell membrane lipids. There are only two reports of high phosphatidylcholine hemolytic anemia in the world.
