Open AccessRare cause of non-immune hemolytic anemia in end-stage liver disease
Author(s) -
Maheep Sangha,
Aakash Aggarwal,
Japmehr Sandhu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2332-7251
pISSN - 2332-7243
DOI - 10.5430/crim.v7n2p7
Subject(s) - hemolysis , medicine , anemia , liver transplantation , hemolytic anemia , cirrhosis , immune system , bile acid , liver disease , immunology , gastroenterology , transplantation
Spur cells are reportedly linked to advanced end-stage liver diseases and may lead to accelerated hemolysis. In this case report, we discuss one of these rare instances when a 45-year-old female with decompensated cirrhosis was admitted for severe anemia. Extensive workup revealed non-immune hemolysis secondary to spur cell formation. Orthotopic liver transplantation remains the only treatment of choice for reversal of spur cell anemia. Alternatively, multidrug therapy has also been explored, including usage of bile acid sequestrants; however, success is rare.