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- $Unique_ID{BRK03773}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency}
- $Subject{Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency G6PD Deficiency Favism
- Acute Hemolytic Anemia}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
-
- 774:
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency
-
- ** IMPORTANT **
- It is possible that the main title of the article (Glucose-6-Phosphate
- Dehydrogenase Deficiency) is not the name you expected. Please check the
- SYNONYM listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered
- by this article.
-
- Synonyms
-
- G6PD Deficiency
-
- Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
- Disorders section of this report:
-
- Favism
- Acute Hemolytic Anemia
-
- General Discussion
-
- ** REMINDER **
- The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
- educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
- purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
- contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
- section of this report.
-
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency is an inherited metabolic
- disorder which may never produce any symptoms in affected individuals.
- However, the disorder may be the cause of other serious medical conditions.
-
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase is an enzyme that is found in all cells
- and is essential in sugar (glucose) metabolism. It also provides red blood
- cells with defense against destruction by certain drugs. A deficiency of
- this enzyme may result in the premature destruction of red blood cells
- (Hemolytic Anemia) or a serious reaction to the consumption of fava beans
- (Favism).
-
- Symptoms
-
- Most individuals with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency show no
- symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are usually similar to those of Acute
- Hemolytic Anemia including chills, fever, shock and pain in the back and
- abdomen. Symptoms may vary in intensity, ranging from a chronic but mild
- form of anemia to a life-threatening condition characterized by the passing
- of blood in the urine (hemoglobinuria) which can lead to shock and kidney
- failure. (For more information on Acute Hemolytic Anemia, see the related
- disorders section of this report.)
-
- Drugs which may cause an episode of Acute Hemolytic Anemia in individuals
- with G6PD Deficiency include Acetanilid, Nalidixic Acid, Nitrofurantoin,
- Phenylhydrazine, Sulfanilimide, Toluidine Blue, Methylene Blue, Naphthalene,
- Pamaquine, Sulfacetamide, Sulfapyridine, Trinitrotoluene, Primaquine,
- Niridazole, Pentaquine, Sulfamethoxazole and Thiacolesulfone. Aspirin,
- certain derivatives of vitamin K, eating fava beans, contracting acute viral
- or bacterial infections and diabetes acidosis may also cause an attack of
- Acute Hemolytic Anemia in people with G6PD Deficiency.
-
- Causes
-
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency is inherited as an X-linked
- genetic trait. (Human traits including the classic genetic diseases, are
- the product of the interaction of two genes for that condition, one received
- from the father and one from the mother. X-linked disorders are conditions
- which are coded on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes and
- males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome. The affected male always
- has a more severe form of an X-linked disorder because they do not have a
- normal X chromosome to compensate for the genetic defect.
-
- Affected Population
-
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency is one of the most common forms
- of enzyme deficiency. It is estimated to affect 400 million people in the
- world with the highest rates of prevalence occurring in tropical Africa, the
- Middle East, tropical and subtropical Asia, areas of the Mediterranean and
- New Guinea. Over 300 different varieties of this disorder have been
- identified, resulting from mutations of the Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase
- gene. Certain varieties are more common in the American Black male
- population. It is rarely diagnosed because most people do not experience
- serious symptoms unless they are exposed to certain drugs.
-
- Related Disorders
-
- The following disorders may be associated with Glucose-6-Phosphate
- Dehydrogenase Deficiency as secondary characteristics. They are not
- necessary for a differential diagnosis:
-
- Favism is a disorder which occurs following the consumption of fava beans
- or the inhalation of the pollen from the fava plant flower. It occurs in
- certain individuals with the genetic enzyme abnormality, Glucose-6-Phosphate
- Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD Deficiency). It is believed that the
- chemicals divicine and isouramil, which are found in high concentrations in
- fava beans, are responsible for the severe reaction in G6PD deficient
- individuals. Favism usually has a sudden onset, occurring only minutes after
- inhaling the fava pollen, or within 5 to 24 hours after eating fava beans.
- Symptoms include fever, jaundice, pallor, increased heart rate, dark red
- urine, headache, severe anemia and possibly coma. Affected individuals also
- become weak and suffer pain in the back and abdomen.
-
- Acute Hemolytic Anemia is a disorder characterized by the premature
- destruction of red blood cells. Normally red blood cells have a life span of
- approximately 120 days before they are removed by the spleen. In an
- individual affected with Acute Hemolytic Anemia, the red blood cells are
- destroyed prematurely and bone marrow production of new cells can no longer
- compensate for their loss. Individuals with Glucose-6-Phosphate
- Dehydrogenase Deficiency are highly susceptible to Acute Hemolytic Anemia,
- which may be triggered by the use of certain medications. Symptoms of Acute
- Hemolytic Anemia may include chills, fever, shock and pain in the back and
- abdomen. Treatment is individualized and may include iron replacement
- therapy or removal of the spleen (splenectomy). (For more information on
- this disorder, choose "Acquired Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia" as your search
- term in the Rare Disease Database.)
-
- Therapies: Standard
-
- Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency is best managed by preventative
- measures. Individuals should be screened for the G6PD defect before being
- treated with certain drugs such as antimalarials and other drugs including
- Acetanilid, Nalidixic Acid, Nitrofurantoin, Phenylhydrazine, Sulfanilimide,
- Toluidine Blue, Methylene Blue, Naphthalene, Pamaquine, Sulfacetamide,
- Sulfapyridine, Trinitrotoluene, Primaquine, Niridazole, Pentaquine,
- Sulfamethoxazole and Thiazolesulfone. If red blood cells are being destroyed
- (hemolysis), the causative drug should be discontinued under a physician's
- supervision and good hydration maintained.
-
- People with G6PD Deficiency should not eat fava beans, nor be exposed to
- areas where fava beans grow.
-
- Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their families.
- Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
-
- Therapies: Investigational
-
- This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April
- 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
- entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
- check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
- information about this disorder.
-
- Resources
-
- For more information on Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, please
- contact:
-
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
- P.O. Box 8923
- New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
- (203) 746-6518
-
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- P.O. Box NDDIC
- Bethesda, MD 20892
- (301) 468-6344
-
- Research Trust for Metabolic Diseases in Children
- Golden Gates Lodge, Weston Rd.
- Crewe CW1 1XN, England
- Telephone: (0270) 250244
-
- For genetic information and genetic counseling referrals:
-
- March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
- 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
- White Plains, NY 10605
- (914) 428-7100
-
- Alliance of Genetic Support Groups
- 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440
- Chevy Chase, MD 20815
- (800) 336-GENE
- (301) 652-5553
-
- References
-
- MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 8th ed.: Victor A. McKusick; Johns Hopkins
- University Press, 1986. Pp. 1281-1282.
-
- INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown
- and Co., 1987. Pp. 1052-1054.
-
- THE MERCK MANUAL, Volume 1, 14th Ed.: Robert Berkow, M.D., ed.-in-chief;
- Merck Sharp & Dohme Laboratories, 1982. Pp. 1119, 2455.
-
- THE SUITABILITY OF SALIVA FOR DETECTION OF GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE
- DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY. A. H. Beaumont et al.; MOL BIOL REP (1988: ISSUE
- 13 (2)). Pp. 73-78.
-
- CHRONIC NONSPHEROCYTIC HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA (CNSHA) AND GLUCOSE 6 PHOSPHATE
- DEHYDROGENASE (G6PD) DEFICIENCY IN A PATIENT WITH FAMILIAL AMYLOIDOTIC
- POLYNEUROPATHY (FAP). MOLECULAR STUDY OF A NEW VARIANT (G6PD CLINIC) WITH
- MARKEDLY ACIDIC PH OPTIMUM. J.L. Vives-Corrons et al.; HUM GENET (January,
- 1989: issue 81 (2)). Pp. 161-164.
-
- TOLERABILITY OF TIAPROFENIC ACID IN PATIENTS WITH GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE
- DEHYDROGENASE (G6PD) DEFICIENCY. Q. Mela et al.; DRUGS (1988: issue 35
- supplement 1). Pp. 107-110.
-
- DIVERSE POINT MUTATIONS IN THE HUMAN GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE
- GENE CAUSE ENZYME DEFICIENCY AND MILD OR SEVERE HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA. T.J.
- Vulliamy et al.; PROC NATL ACAD SCI USA (July, 1988: issue 85 (14)). Pp.
- 5171-5175.
-
-