Haemolytic anaemia in a patient with anorexia nervosa.

We report on a 17-year-old female patient with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) (body mass index of 9.8 kg/m(2)) who developed hypophosphataemia (serum phosphate 0.4 nmol/l) and subsequent haemolytic anaemia during oral refeeding. Hypophosphataemia due to an increased phosphate uptake may lead to a reduction of erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate. This mechanism is important for the differential diagnosis of haemolytic anaemia in patients with AN. To prevent this complication, phosphate supplementation should be considered in the refeeding of severely malnourished patients. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel