A 35 year old woman was admitted to the hospital owing to her nausea, vomiting, oliguria and petechia with re-administration of rifampin. Laboratory tests were performed and they showed a hemoglobin level of 8.6 g/dL, a leukocyte count of 7,660/microliter, a platelet count of 1,000/microliter, a blood urea nitrogen level of 92.3 mg/dL and a creatinine level of 10.6 mg/dL. The Direct Coombs' test and anti-platelet antibody test were positive. Hemolytic anemia combined with thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure related to rifampin was suspected. We proved the formation of immune complex with anti-rifampin antibody and rifampin by in vitro testing. Hemolytic anemia combined with thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure after treatment with rifampin is a rare condition. We report here on such a case along with a brief review of the related literature.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic* ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Coombs Test ; Creatinine ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Nausea ; Oliguria ; Platelet Count ; Rifampin* ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Vomiting