Rare Case of Hemolytic Anemia and Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis in an adult due to Homozygous SLC4A1 Mutation

In this case study, we report an adult patient presenting with generalized weakness, marked anemia, spherocytosis, and no features of thalassemia. The patient was treated for suspicion of autoimmune hemolytic anemia but was recalcitrant to treatment. Genetic analysis revealed the patient to be homozygous for SLC4A1 c.2573C>A (p.Ala858Asp). Distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) can be caused by mutations in SLC4A1, which encodes the Cl(−)/HCO(3)(−) exchanger of the renal type A intercalated cell, kidney AE1. SLC4A1 variants have been reported in dRTA patients from North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. In some rare instances, SLC4A1 dRTA can present with hemolytic anemia resulting in marked anemia that is not responsive to standard interventions. This report identifies an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern for SLC4A1 variants in a patient presenting with dRTA and hemolytic anemia.