Hemolytic Anemia Secondary to Rasburicase Treatment in the Setting of Glucose-6-Phosphate-Dehydrogenase Deficiency: A Case Report

Rasburicase is a recombinant form of urate oxidase, a medication used to treat hyperuricemia by metabolizing uric acid into an inactive and more soluble metabolite, allantoin. An oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide, is produced during the conversion of uric acid to allantoin. We present here a case of hemolytic anemia secondary to rasburicase treatment which was later confirmed to have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDD). Treatment was stopped after one dose and the patient received a transfusion of packed red blood cells to correct the anemia. The patient's hyperuricemia was subsequently managed with allopurinol and febuxostat.