Haemolytic anaemia in a Patient with Anorexia nervosa

We report on a 17-year-old female patient with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) (body mass index of 9.8 kg/m(2)) who developed hypophosphataemia (serum ph osphate 0.4 nmol/l) and subsequent haemolytic anaemia during oral refeeding . Hypophosphataemia due to an increased phosphate uptake may lead to a redu ction of erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate. This mechanism is important fo r the differential diagnosis of haemolytic anaemia in patients with AN. To prevent this complication, phosphate supplementation should be considered i n the refeeding of severely malnourished patients. Copyright (C) 2001 S, Ka rger AG, Basel.