Final answer:
The symptoms normal MCV, increased LDH, increased indirect bilirubin, and decreased haptoglobin after exposure to oxidants suggest G6PD deficiency, which causes hemolytic anemia. The condition involves the destruction of red blood cells and is confirmed by specific lab findings, including a negative Coombs' test. Avoidance of oxidizing agents in food and medicine is important for management.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symptoms described by the student: normal Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), increased Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), increased indirect bilirubin, and decreased haptoglobin, especially after ingesting primiquine, sulfas, or fava beans, suggest a condition known as Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. This is a genetic disorder that leads to the breakdown of red blood cells under stress from oxidizing agents found in certain medications and foods. The sudden onset of symptoms after exposure to oxidizing agents is indicative of hemolytic anemia in individuals with G6PD deficiency.
During hemolytic anemia, red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be produced, and laboratory findings include high levels of LDH, indicative of cell breakdown, low levels of haptoglobin due to its consumption during the clearance of free hemoglobin, and increased indirect bilirubin from the breakdown of hemoglobin outside of the liver. The Direct Antiglobulin Test (Coombs' test) would be negative as the hemolysis is not immune-mediated in G6PD deficiency.
Patients with G6PD deficiency typically present with jaundice and anemia, among other symptoms of hemolysis, following the ingestion of certain foods like fava beans or medications that place oxidative stress on red blood cells. Treatment includes avoiding triggering substances and managing symptoms of hemolysis.