Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Malta : a preliminary study

Abstract

It has been suggested that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) affects more than 100 million people of all races throughout the world. The special relevance of this problem to Malta can readily be appreciated when it is remembered that G6PD deficiency is particularly common in countries bordering the Mediterranean. For the purpose of this survey samples of blood were obtained from the following: i) normal people - blood donors, students at various colleges, and staff; ii) patients from the wards at St. Luke's Hospital Malta suffering from a variety of surgical or medical disorders; and iii) diabetic patients under treatment. The results are tabulated in table 2. Eight hundred samples were examined: 555 males and 245 females. Ten males and 2 females were found to be enzyme deficient - an incidence of 1.8% and 0.8% respectively. There was no significant difference between the diabetic and either the normal or the ordinary patients groups. The lower incidence of G6PD deficiency in females can be explained by the relative lack of sensitivity of the BCB test in heterozygotes.