[Hemolytic anemia caused by excessive use of analgesics]

A 40-year-old female patient is reported who gave a history of analgesics abuse (phenacetin) and had haemolytic anaemia. The probable mechanism of the toxic effect of phenacetin on the haemopoietic system through induction of intravascular haemolysis (so called stibophen-type haemolysis) is discussed. One-year follow-up demonstrated the reversibility of these haematological changes.