Deficiency of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in Greek populations.

Abstract

SUMMARY Erythrocyte glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase has been measured on samples from 665 males from different parts of Greece. High proportions of enzyme‐deficient subjects were found in some regions, notably the Chalkidhiki peninsula and the island of Rhodes. The incidence of enzyme deficiency in different populations shows a positive correlation with the incidence of abnormal haemoglobin genes, as would be expected if all the genes are favoured by malarial selection. We are indebted to various Greek colleagues who facilitated the collection of blood or providec helpful discussion, including Prof. G. A. Deliyannis and Dr A. Ballas, Salonika, Dr Limberis and Prof. K. B. Choremis, Athens, and Dr G. Kypriotis, Rhodes. The work was supported by the Section on Geographic Medicine and Genetics, National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.