Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
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Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
G6PD deficiency causes a disease in which a person has too few red blood cells because the cells break apart easily (hemolytic anemia). This is an inherited condition that is most common in people from tropical Africa, the Mediterranean, and certain parts of Asia. It is also common in black Americans.
Certain medications and infections can cause attacks of anemia in people with this condition. For some people, eating fava beans (also called broad beans) can cause an anemic attack.
Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | W. David Colby, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 16, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, W. David Colby, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman |
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