Table of Contents
- 1 Can malaria cause G6PD deficiency?
- 2 What is true about patients who have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency?
- 3 Why should people with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase defect not take the antimalarial drug primaquine?
- 4 How does glucose-6-phosphate deficiency protect against malaria?
- 5 How does glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase protects an individual against malaria?
- 6 How can a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase confer a physiological advantage?
Can malaria cause G6PD deficiency?
G6PD is an important enzyme in red blood cells (erythrocytes), the host cells for Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most severe form of malaria. G6PD deficiency is associated with protection against malaria, notably in Africa where one form of G6PD deficiency (G6PD A-) is widespread.
What is true about patients who have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency?
G6PD deficiency occurs when a person is missing or does not have enough of an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. This enzyme helps red blood cells work properly. Too little G6PD leads to the destruction of red blood cells. This process is called hemolysis.
Why is glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency found in higher frequency in certain parts of the world?
The frequency of G6PD deficiency in certain geographical areas is high because affected individuals and heterozygous female carriers have a selective survival advantage against severe malaria [55].
Why should people with a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase defect not take the antimalarial drug primaquine?
Primaquine, which is the only drug currently, used in the treatment of Plasmodium infections leads to severe hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients. This drug may even cause death in G6PD-deficient patients.
How does glucose-6-phosphate deficiency protect against malaria?
As G6PD deficiency leads to increased oxidative stress in red blood cells, this may in turn have a negative influence on the parasite. As such, individuals who possess this mutation have some protection against malaria.
Why is G6PD tested for malaria?
G6PD deficiency causes problems primarily when the deficiency is complicated by the treatment of malaria. Treatment can cause (severe) hemolysis in G6PD-deficient patients. Therefore, patients should be screened for G6PD deficiency before treatment with these potential hemolytic agents.
How does glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase protects an individual against malaria?
How can a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase confer a physiological advantage?
Nevertheless, G6PD deficiency has been positively selected by malaria, and recent knowledge seems to show that it also confers an advantage against the development of cancer, reduces the risk of coronary diseases and has a beneficial effect in terms of longevity.