Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and Malaria in Anuradhapura District

Abstract

The effects of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency on the severity of intravascular haemolysis was assessed. In addition, the hypothesis glucose 6 -phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency offers protection from malaria was tested. The usefulness of some of the tests used to identify glucose 6 -phosphate dehydrogenase status was also assessed. The severity of haemolysis was also assessed by the degree of anemia and the need for blood transfusions. The follow up of glucose 6 -phosphate dehydrogenase deficient subjects and non-deficient controls indicated the incidence density of malaria to be 0.33 cases/100 person-months among subjects and 0.41 cases/100 person-months among controls.The relative risk (95 per cent CI) for malaria was 0.8 (0.51-1.27).Glucose 6 -phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency appears to have a protective effect on malaria,though not significant.The preventive fraction was 19.5 per cent.