Salicylazosulphapyridine-induced Heinz body anemia

A 58-year-old patient suffered from severe malabsorption due to agammaglobulinemia. Treated empirically with salicylazosulfapyridine 2--6 g/day, the subjective and objective features of malabsorption regressed. About a year after this treatment she developed a generalized weakness without renewal of the diarrhea; the diagnosis of Heinz body hemolytic anemia was established. In our patient, hemolysis began many months after the commencement of treatment and no deficiency of G6PD or other erythrocyte enzyme or pathological hemoglobin were found.