Survey on causes of hemolysis in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient pediatric patients

Objective: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common enzymatic disorder of red blood cells and more than 400 million people are affected in the world. Our objective was to evaluate the causes of hemolysis in G6PD deficient hospitalized patients. Methodology: This retrospective study was done on 196 G6PD deficient patients during 2007-2010. They were between 1-13 years of age who were admitted to Shahid Dastgheib hospital of Shiraz in Iran for management of hemolysis crisis. Patients with hemolysis but without any documents of G6PD deficiency were excluded. Results: The prevalence of G6PD deficiency was higher in boys. Seasonal variations also affect hemolysis in these patients, peak incidence was observed in spring fallowed by autumn, winter and summer respectively. Ingestion of fava beans was the major cause where as infections, drugs, exposure to henna, pollen of fava beans and diabetic ketoacidosis were the other causes of hemolysis. Conclusion: The major cause of hemolysis is ingestion of fava beans fallowed by infections and oxidative drugs consumption in this region. So, awareness of G6PD deficient subjects about these factors and an early treatment of infection is very important for prevention of hemolysis in these patients.