HEMOLYSIS CAUSED BY CMV INFECTION IN A PREGNANT WOMAN WITH SILENT ELLIPTOCYTOSIS

Elliptocytosis is reported to occur in at least 1 per 5000 individuals , but most cases are heterozygous and do not show clinical hemolysis. Healthy individuals with silent elliptocytosis, however, may suddenly have an episode of hemolysis [1]. Here we report a woman in the third trimester of pregnancy who suffered from cytomegalovirus (CMV) infecti on with hemolysis. Scanning electron microscopy showed that half of he r red blood cells were oval, and protein analysis revealed a 50% reduc tion of protein 4.1. We discuss the role of CMV infection and pregnanc y in the onset of hemolysis in a patient with otherwise silent ellipto cytosis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inland Ltd. All rights reserved.