Table 1.

Classification of certainty of the diagnosis of primaquine-associated severe hemolysis

Probable

Paired Hb* recorded

Decrease in Hb to < 7 g/dL and > 25% fractional decrease

Decrease in Hb to ≥ 5 g/dL

Decrease in Hb to 3 to 4.99 g/dL or > 25% decrease AND dark-brown or red urine or jaundice or shortness of breath or heart failure   or blood transfusion or renal replacement therapy or death

Single Hb† recorded after PQ administration

Hb < 7 g/dL AND dark, brown or red urine or jaundice AND shortness of breath or heart failure or blood transfusion or renal   replacement therapy or death

Possible

No Hb recorded

Dark urine or jaundice AND blood transfusion or renal replacement therapy or death

Single Hb recorded after PQ administration

Hb < 7 g/dL AND dark, brown, or red urine or jaundice or shortness of breath or heart failure or blood transfusion or renal   replacement therapy or death

Hb ≥ 7 g/dL AND dark urine or jaundice AND shortness of breath or heart failure or blood transfusion or renal replacement therapy   or death

Uncertain

Not fulfilling probable or possible criteria but considered serious PQ-associated hemolysis by authors

Hb = hemoglobin; PQ = primaquine.

^*Hemoglobin reported before and after PQ administration.

^†Hemoglobin reported only after PQ administration.

All cases required temporal association with PQ within the preceding 4 weeks.