Assessment of the Prevalence of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) Deficiency among Patients in Harare

Abstract

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency is widelyassociated with oxidant induced haemolytic episodes, especially inpeople on malaria treatment. A cross sectional study on the prevalenceof G6PD deficiency in was carried out on 200 blood samples fromvarious private surgeries and three major Hospitals in Harare duringOctober and November, 2001. The blood samples were screened for theprevalence of G6PD deficiency using the NAPD oxidoreductase method.One hundred and eight (54%) were males and 92 (46%) were females. Ap-value of 0.1096 indicated no statistically significant difference betweenthe two sexes. Twenty-three out of the 200 (12 %) were G-6-PD deficientwhile the remainder 177 (88%) were found to be normal. Stratifying the23 optical density values of the deficient samples in this study showedthat four (17%) had values equal to and more than (>) 0.400 indicatingsevere deficiency and 19 (83%) had values between 0.330 and less than0.400 indicating mild deficiency. Optical density stratification may givea possible grading system in the deficiency rates. A well planned, largeand more controlled research study is required to assess G6PD deficiencyin Zimbabwe more effectively.Key words: Glucose-6-phosphate, oxidant, haemolysis, malaria, optical density