Automated Fluorometric Method for Screening for Erythrocyte Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Deficiency of the erythrocyte enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.49, GPD] is as-sociated with hemolysis after exposure to oxidative drugs, ingestion of the fava bean, or infection. Epi-sodes of hemolysis may be prevented by avoiding in-gestion of substances toxic to erythrocytes with GPD deficiency. We describe here an automated fluoro-metric method suitable for screening for erythrocyte GPO deficiency. Anticoagulated whole blood is ex-amined. Reliable results are obtained for hemoglobin concentrations ranging from 7-17 g/100 ml. Additional Keyphrases:hemolytic anemia #{149}AutoAnalyzer #{149}manual spot-test method compared In this paper we present an automated method suitable for mass screening for erythrocyte GPD1 de-ficiency. This enzyme, important for erythrocyte energy formation, is deficient in three million per-sons in the United States (4). Because the deficiency is sex-linked, mostly males are affected. It is the basis for most episodes of thug-induced hemolytic anemia and the cause for hemolytic anemia in fav-ism and certain diseases, mainly severe infections (1-3). Drugs incriminated as causes for hemolysis include members of the following groups: antimalarials, an-algesics, antibiotics, sulfonamides, sulfones, nitrofu-rans, and water-soluble derivatives of vitamin K (4). Some of these drugs, especially phenacetin, frequent-ly are self-administered by the patient. Were it not for the risk of favism, the fava bean would be a valu-able vegetable protein source in diets of developing countries, especially as a component of “weaning” preparations for infants. Although compounds known to cause hemolysis represent a wide variety of natural and synthetic products, they share th