Excessive fluoride consumption increases haematological alteration in subjects with iron deficiency, thalassaemia, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency.

Excessive fluoride consumption leads to accelerated red blood cell death and anaemia. Whether that increases the haematological alteration in subjects with haematological disorders (iron deficiency, thalassaemia, and G-6-PD deficiency) is still unclear. The fluoride in serum and urine and haematological parameters of students at Mae Tuen School (fluoride endemic area) were analysed and compared to those of students at Baan Yang Poa and Baan Mai Schools (control areas). Iron deficiency, thalassaemia, and G-6-PD deficiency were also diagnosed in these students. The students at Mae Tuen School had significantly (P < 0.001) higher levels of mean fluoride in the serum and urine than those in control areas. In both control and fluoride endemic areas, students with haematological disorders had significantly lower levels of Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, and MCHC than those without haematological disorders. Moreover, the lowest levels of Hb, MCH, and MCHC were observed in the students with haematological disorders who live in the fluoride endemic area. Thus, the excessive fluoride consumption increased haematological alteration in subjects with iron deficiency, thalassaemia, and G-6-PD deficiency and that may increase the risk of anaemia in these subjects.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Nigerian children.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzymopathy and in Sub-Saharan Africa, is a significant cause of infection- and drug-induced hemolysis and neonatal jaundice. Our goals were to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency among Nigerian children of different ethnic backgrounds and to identify predictors of G6PD deficiency by analyzing vital signs and hematocrit and by asking screening questions about symptoms of hemolysis. We studied 1,122 children (561 males and 561 females) aged 1 month to 15 years. The mean age was 7.4 ± 3.2 years. Children of Yoruba ethnicity made up the largest group (77.5%) followed by those Igbo descent (10.6%) and those of Igede (10.2%) and Tiv (1.8%) ethnicity. G6PD status was determined using the fluorescent spot method. We found that the overall prevalence of G6PD deficiency was 15.3% (24.1% in males, 6.6% in females). Yoruba children had a higher prevalence (16.9%) than Igede (10.5%), Igbo (10.1%) and Tiv (5.0%) children. The odds of G6PD deficiency were 0.38 times as high in Igbo children compared to Yoruba children (p=0.0500). The odds for Igede and Tiv children were not significantly different from Yoruba children (p=0.7528 and 0.9789 respectively). Mean oxygen saturation, heart rate and hematocrit were not significantly different in G6PD deficient and G6PD sufficient children. The odds of being G6PD deficient were 2.1 times higher in children with scleral icterus than those without (p=0.0351). In conclusion, we determined the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Nigerian sub-populations. The odds of G6PD deficiency were decreased in Igbo children compared to Yoruba children. There was no association between vital parameters or hematocrit and G6PD deficiency. We found that a history of scleral icterus may increase the odds of G6PD deficiency, but we did not exclude other common causes of icterus such as sickle cell disease or malarial infection.

Urinary acidification in a patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. A reevaluation of the role of the hexose monophosphate shunt in renal acid secretion.

The relationship between renal metabolism and urinary acidification is poorly understood. During the past decade evidence has accrued to suggest that the hexose monophosphate (HMP) shunt might serve in the process of urinary acidification by providing reducing equivalents for a redox-coupled membrane-bound proton pump that could transport protons into the tubular lumen. The major support for this hypothesis has come from the finding that HMP shunt activity increases with acute and chronic metabolic acidosis. In the present study, we examine the urinary acidification capacity of a young man with severe erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and with unmeasurable G-6-PD activity in renal cortical tissue. We found that despite unmeasurable G-6-PD activity in renal tissue, the patient was capable of generating a maximally acid urine and increasing total acid secretion. Our findings suggest that the HMP shunt may not be necessary for the urinary acidification process.

Salicylamide glucuronide formation in newborn babies with G-6-PD deficiency.

Salicylamide glucuronide formation has been studied in 23 newborn babies with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency and in 15 normal newborns on the first day of life. Glucuronide formation was significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in the former in comparison with the controls. In the newborns with G-6-PD deficiency who subsequently became hyperbilirubinemic an even lower mean glucuronide formation was observed (p less than 0.01) in respect to the non-jaundiced G-6-PD-deficient newborns.