1987 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 244-249
Three cases of factitious anemia were reported. Case 1 was a 42 year-old housewife, who was admitted to our hospital because of recurrent severe anemia. During hospital days rapidly progressive anemia recurred periodically. Extensive examination for anemia were performed in vain. She was observed closely and finally found out producing the profuse vaginal bleeding by lacerating with a razor. She was also a typical example of hospital addiction. Case 2 was a 26 year-old male who had been in remission of AML for about 4 years. He was admitted to this hospital with a complaint of paraplegia. During admission severe anemia developed abruptly without an increase of blast cells in bone marrow. Red cells were transfused repeatedly but anemia of unknown cause recurred several times. Accurate diagnosis was made by finding him drawing blood from his antecubital vein. Case 3 was a 26 year-old married female engaged in medicine, who had a past history of anorexia nervosa and drug abuse. She repeated hospitalizations because of iron deficiency anemia of unknown cause. In fourth admission, a number of needles, syrynges and tourniquets were found by examination of her personal possessions.
When factitious anemia is suspected, precise observation of patients by TV monitoring system might be a useful diagnostic procedure.
