ABSENCE OF HEMOLYTIC POTENTIAL OF OFLOXACIN TOWARD GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE-DEFICIENT ERYTHROCYTES

Some drugs can cause hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient subjects. We studied the potential hemolytic effect of ofloxacin, a 4-quinolone antibiotic, in vitro. Drugs that may be hemolytic for glucose-6-phosphate-deficient erythrocytes stimulate the hexose monophosphate shunt of normal erythrocytes and cause oxidation of reduced glutathione and reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate in deficient red cells. Blood from ten normal subjects and five G6PD-deficient patients was tested in vitro in the presence of different concentrations of ofloxacin. No significant metabolic modifications were observed, either in normal or in G6PD-deficient red cells; ofloxacin may therefore be safely used in those countries having a high incidence of G6PD deficiency.