Oct

1

2025

Why is hemolysis in B12 deficiency sometimes confused with hemolysis from other causes?

By William Aird

Severe B12 deficiency leads to ineffective erythropoiesis (intramedullary destruction of RBC precursors). This raises LDH and indirect bilirubin, mimicking hemolysis, but haptoglobin is usually normal and the smear shows macrocytosis with hypersegmented neutrophils.