Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

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A deficiency of G6PD results in hemolysis (destruction) of red blood cells. There are many kinds of G6PD deficiency, and in most cases an additional environmental factor is necessary to bring about a hemolytic episode.

Hemolytic episodes can be triggered by drugs (sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin, phenacetin, antipyretics, primaquine, quinidine, thiazide diuretics, and tolbutamide), infections, severe stress, or certain foods such as fava beans.

It is important that this test not be performed in the setting of an acute hemolytic episode. Following hemolysis, the cells most likely to have low G6PD levels (older cells) have been destroyed, and those remaining may show normal G6PD levels.

Following recovery from the episode, aged cells will show the decreased levels of G6PD, resulting in a positive test.

Review Date: 04/15/2005
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, MD, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.