Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: review apropos of a clinical case

The glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzymatic corpuscular alteration of the erythrocytes. The disorder is related with an impairment of an enzyme dedicated to the protection against oxidative injuries to the red blood cells. The majority of the patients remain asymptomatic. When symptomatic, it is usually recognized as a haemolytic disease, in turn triggered by some drugs, infections or specific food. Favism encompasses the situations when the alteration is related to the ingestion of fava beans. Acute management of the haemolytic crisis is centered on the anemization of the patient. A transfusion of red blood cells may be necessary in some cases. The main point in the care of these patients is avoiding the potential triggers of a new haemolytic crisis. G6PD has not been related with a poor quality of life when the mentioned cares are taken into account. We present in this article a review of this disorder apropos of a clinical case that debuted in Primary Attention Care.