Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency 

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Chapter:
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Author(s):

Lucio Luzzatto

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780198746690.003.0541
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 07 March 2021

Deficiency of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in red blood cells is an inherited abnormality due to mutations of the G6PD gene on the X chromosome that renders the cells vulnerable to oxidative damage. The condition is widespread in many populations living in or originating from tropical and subtropical areas of the world because it confers a selective advantage against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Clinical features—G6PD deficiency is mostly an asymptomatic trait, but it predisposes to acute haemolytic anaemia in response to exogenous triggers, including (1) ingestion of fava beans—favism; (2) certain bacterial and viral infections; and (3) some drugs—notably some antimalarials (e.g. primaquine), some antibiotics (e.g. sulphanilamide, dapsone, nitrofurantoin), and even aspirin in high doses. Other manifestations include (1) severe neonatal jaundice; and (2) chronic nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia—the latter is only seen with rare specific genetic variants. The acute haemolytic attack typically starts with malaise, weakness, and abdominal or lumbar pain, followed by the development of jaundice and passage of dark urine (haemoglobinuria). Most episodes resolve spontaneously. Diagnosis relies on the direct demonstration of decreased activity of G6PD in red cells: a variety of screening tests are available, with (ideally) subsequent confirmation by quantitative assay. Prevention is by avoiding exposure to triggering factors of previously screened subjects. Prompt blood transfusion is indicated in severe acute haemolytic anaemia and may be life-saving.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.