Frequency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency in asymptomatic Pakistani population

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of G6PD deficiency in asymptomatic Pakistan population. Cross sectional study. This was carried out at Pakistan Air Force [PAF] Hospital at PAF Base Masroor Karachi between June 2004 - September 2007. Healthy young males and females between the ages of 13 to 28 years were tested for G6PD deficiency. None of the individuals had the findings of chronic hemolytic anemia. Their test was carried out on Trinity Biotech visual, qualitative, colorimetric procedure for determining G6PD deficiency using dichlorophenol indophenols as an indicator. During the study period 888 individuals, 804 males and 84 females were tested for G6PD deficiency. Forty [4.5%] individual had G6PD deficiency. All were otherwise healthy with normal general physical examination, complete blood count, blood glucose level, liver function tests, renal function tests, lipid profile, urine analysis, electrocardiogram and X- Ray chest .Out of 804 males 40[5.0%] had G6PD deficiency. None of the 84 females had the enzyme deficiency. G6PD deficiency is observed to be 4.5%. Our findings are in conformity with W.H.O data for geographic distribution of G6PD deficiency in Pakistan .It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemolytic anemia, especially following drug administration