G6PD Deficiency: Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Red blood cells
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Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency in the world. Approximately 400 million people are affected worldwide. There is great variability in severity based on which mutation is inherited.

G6PD is an enzyme found in the red blood cell required to provide energy to the cell. Without this energy, the red blood cell is destroyed by the body (hemolysis) leading to anemia and jaundice (yellowing of the skin).

Risk Factors

The gene for G6PD is located on the X chromosome making males most susceptible to G6PD deficiency (X-linked disorder). G6PD deficiency protects people from being infected in malaria so it is more commonly seen in areas with high malaria infection rates such as Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Asia. In the United States, 10% of African-Americans males have G6PD deficiency.


Symptoms depend on which mutation you inherit. Some people may never be diagnosed as no symptoms are present. Some patients with G6PD deficiency have symptoms only when exposed to certain medications or foods (see list below). Some people may be diagnosed as newborns after experiencing severe jaundice (also called hyperbilirubinemia). In those patients and those with more severe forms of G6PD deficiency with chronic hemolysis, symptoms include:

  • Pallor or pale color to skin
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Feeling faint or dizzy
  • Yellowing of skin (jaundice) or eyes (scleral icterus)
  • Dark urine


Diagnosing G6PD deficiency can be tricky. First, you physician must suspect that you have a hemolytic anemia (breakdown of red blood cells). This is usually confirmed by a complete blood count and a reticulocyte count. Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells sent from the bone marrow in response to the anemia. Anemia with elevated reticulocyte count is consistent with hemolytic anemia. Other labs might include a bilirubin count which will be elevated. Bilirubiin is released from the red blood cell when they are broken down and cause jaundice during hemolytic crises.

In the process of determining the diagnosis, your physician will need to rule out autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). The direct anti globulin test (also called direct Coombs’ test) assesses whether there are antibodies to red blood cells causing them to be attacked by your immune system. As in most cases of hemolytic anemia, the peripheral blood smear (microscope slide of the blood) is very helpful. In G6PD deficiency, bite cells and blister cells are common. These are caused by changes that occur to the red blood cell as it is destroyed.

If G6PD deficiency is suspected, a G6PD level can be sent off. A low G6PD level is consistent with G6PD deficiency. Unfortunately, in the midst of an acute hemolytic crisis, a normal G6PD level does not rule out deficiency. The numerous reticulocytes present during the hemolytic crisis contain normal levels of G6PD causing a false negative. If highly suspected, the testing should be repeated when the patient is at baseline status.


Avoid medications or foods that trigger hemolytic (red blood cell breakdown) crises. Some of these are listed below.

  • Fava beans (also called broad beans)
  • Moth balls (or other products containing naphthalene)
  • Sulfa antibiotics like Bactrim/Septra, sulfadiazine
  • Quinolone antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
  • Nitrofurantoin (antibiotic)
  • Anti-malaria medications like primaquine
  • Methylene blue
  • TB medications like dapsone and sulfoxone
  • Cancer treatment medications like doxorubicin or rasburicase
  • Phenazopyridine

Blood transfusions are used when the anemia is severe and the patient is symptomatic. Fortunately, most patients never need a transfusion.

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