Last reviewed: 30 Sep 2024
Last updated: 21 Jun 2023
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- at-risk demographic
- positive family history
- history of infection or exposure to oxidative drugs or broad (fava) beans
- jaundice
- pallor
- dark urine
Full details
Other diagnostic factors
- nausea
- cataract
- splenomegaly
Full details
Risk factors
- male sex
- neonate
- ethnic origin in the Mediterranean, sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, or Southeast Asia
- family history
- recent exposure to oxidative drugs
- infection
- recent exposure to broad beans (favism)
Full details
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- CBC
- reticulocyte count
- urinalysis
- unconjugated (indirect) bilirubin
- LDH
- haptoglobin
- peripheral blood smear
Full details
Tests to consider
- G6PD fluorescent spot test
- G6PD spectrophotometry
- molecular analysis
Full details
Emerging tests
- point of care testing
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
acute hemolysis
neonates with prolonged indirect hyperbilirubinemia
ONGOING
chronic nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia
Contributors
Authors
Atul Bhanu Mehta, MA, MD, FRCP, FRCPath
Professor of Haematology and Consultant Haematologist
Royal Free Hospital and University College London School of Medicine
London
UK
Disclosures
ABM declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Lucio Luzzatto, MD
Professor of Hematology
University of Firenze
Florence
Italy
Disclosures
LL declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Sickle cell disease
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Isoimmune hemolytic anemia: for example, ABO incompatibility
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Clinical practice guideline revision: management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation
- Laboratory diagnosis of G6PD deficiency. A British Society for Haematology Guideline
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