Intravascular hemolysis in aluminium phosphide poisoning

Intravascular hemolysis is most often secondary to exposure to a variety of drugs or infections, and usually occurs in patients who are deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) enzyme. Aluminium phosphide, a fumigant widely used in India, has been reported to produce intravascular hemolysis in only one patient who also had concomitant G-6-PD deficiency. This report describes the occurrence of intravascular hemolysis with aluminium phosphide poisoning in a patient with normal G-6-PD levels. This is of significance as jaundice in patients with this poisoning is often attributed to hepatic damage alone.