favism

Introduction

Acute hemolytic anemia secondary to ingestion of fava beans or inhalation of its dust in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Epidemiology

Caucasians of Mediterranean ancestry

Clinical manifestations

• mild fever
• back pain
• jaundice
• fatigue
• pallor
• tachycardia
• dark red urine

Laboratory

• complete blood count (CBC): normocytic normochromic anemia
• reticulocyte count: reticulocytosis
• serum bilirubin: hyperbilirubinemia
• urinalysis: hemoglobinuria
• diminished erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in serum (serum G6PD)

More general terms

• glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency