ACUTE HEMOLYTIC-ANEMIA CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO BROAD BEANS

A previously healthy 17-year-old Greek boy suddenly developed jaundice of sclerae and skin. In addition, physical examination revealed a pal e appearance. He also reported feeling tired and weak. The haemoglobin level was 9.6 g/dl, lactate dehydrogenase activity 335 U/l, bilirubin concentration 3.2 mg/dl (direct bilirubin 0.7 mg/dl, indirect bilirub in 2.5 mg/dl), haptoglobin concentration 48.8 mg/dl. As haemolytic ana emia was assumed, direct questioning elecited the fact that the patien t had, for the first time in his life, eaten 300 g of broad beans (Vic ia faba) on each of two days, namely 3 and 2 days before the appearanc e of jaundice. Absence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity i n the red blood corpuscles confirmed the diagnosis of favism. On sympt omatic treatment both the enzyme activities and the bilirubin level fe ll to normal within one week, and the haemoglobin level was 15.7 g/dl after 4 weeks.