Syncope in the Emergency Department: A Case Report of a Rare Presentation of Favism

Consumption of fava beans in a patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, also called favism, can lead to a haemolytic crisis. We report the case of a 69-year-old patient of Iranian origin admitted to the emergency department following syncope. The patient's comprehensive interview and blood analysis revealed that the patient presented a haemolytic crisis triggered by fava beans consumption, due to previously undiagnosed G6PD deficiency. The pathophysiology of favism is complex and clinical presentations of G6PD deficiency are numerous due to multiple genetic variants. Indirect signs, such as the presence of methemoglobinaemia and hemighosts on the blood smear, can aid in the diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of considering G6PD deficiency as a potential diagnosis in case of haemolytic crisis, even in elderly patients.