Acute Hemolytic Anemia Induced by Levofloxacin in a Woman With G6PD Deficiency: A Case Report

Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) is an X-linked recessive disorder recognized as the most prevalent enzyme deficiency around the world. G6PD deficiency has a high prevalence in Iran, especially in the northern regions. As we know, hemolysis in G6PD patients was not reported with levofloxacin previously.

 In this report, we introduce a 54-year-old G6PD deficient woman who experienced the symptoms of hemolytic anemia following completion of treatment with levofloxacin.

After ruling out other causes of hemolysis, by using the Naranjo scale, levofloxacin was considered as a possible cause of hemolysis.

Though the hemolytic anemia induced by levofloxacin is extremely rare in G6PD deficient patients, drug-induced hemolytic anemia should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses. It would be appropriate to use an alternative antibiotic instead of levofloxacin in a G6PD deficient patient.