Survey of the Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency in Admitted Men for Premarriage Tests in Zahedan-Iran Reference Laboratory

Background: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common known enzymopathy in human. G6PD deficiency is usually asymptomatic, however, deficient individuals are at increased risk of developing acute hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia following intake of oxidative agents and fava. The objective of present study was to detect prevalence of G6PD deficiency in admitted males for premarriage tests in Zahedan reference laboratory. Also, we compared blood indices of normal and G6PD deficient individuals.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 1340 admitted males in Zahedan reference laboratory from February 2008 to March 2009. G6PD activity was determined in EDTA containing blood samples by qualitative fluorescence spot test, then G6PD deficiency was confirmed by quantitative spectrophotometric method. Total leukocyte count and RBC indices of G6PD deficient samples and the same number of normal samples were compared. The differences between two groups were compared using Sigmaplot software and t-Student test. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: G6PD deficiency was found in 84 individuals of total 1340 by fluorescence spot test and confirmed in 79 by quantitative method. Therefore, prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Zahedan was estimated to be 5.9%. Comparison of deficient and normal individuals did not show significant difference in WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and RDW-SD. However, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was significantly high and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and RDW-CV were significantly low in G6PD deficient individuals compared to those with normal enzyme level.

Discussion: present study revealed that the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Zahedan is 5.9%. Severity of G6PD deficiency in quantitative assay indicated that class I and II are probably dominant variants in Zahedan.