Spurious hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia and hypoxemia in chronic hemolytic anemia.

Spurious hypoglycemia and hyperkalemia were found in a patient with chronic hemolytic anemia due to an unidentified hemoglobinopathy. The patient had massive reticulocytosis, and many nucleated red blood cells were present in his blood smear. Hypoxemia was induced in vitro. No correlation was found between in vitro hypoglycemia and hyperkalemia. Reticulocytosis and the presence of nucleated red blood cells, as occurs in hemolytic anemia, should be added to the list of hematological causes of spurious hypoglycemia, hyperkalemia and hypoxemia.