A limited number of studies have been done to determine other drugs and chemicals which may be of harm to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient individuals. Of particular interest are ascorbic acid and Dapsone. Ascorbic acid or vitamin C as known by many, is an antioxidant. 10.It is present in many foodstuff and food supplements. The problem only arises in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient persons when taken in very high doses. 17.On the other hand Dapsone, a sulphone which is currently used in the treatment of dermatitis herpetiform and leprosy can cause haemolytic anaemia in any patient when the daily dose is 200mg or more. The haemolysis is more severe in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and can occur at much lower doses. 18.It should be noted that the degree of haemolysis in subjects with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency given sulphones varies markedly from one person to another. 16.
New-borns and young children who are glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient warrants extra attention. The scene here is much more gloomier where even local antiseptic applied to the umbilical stump of infants for example may precipitate haemolysis! 19.A comprehensive list of drugs and agents which cause haemolysis in those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency have been laboriously compiled (Table 1). Most of these drugs may cause haemolysis in both children and adult sufferers alike. Susceptibility of patients to any of these drugs depend on their individual metabolism and excretion characteristics i.e. pharmacokinetics. 14.
There are essentially two different types of haemolysis shown by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient patients in response to triggering factors, namely the acute haemolytic and the chronic spherocytic type. The chronic spherocytic anaemia is generally unaffected by exposure to drugs, 11.but a very small group with chronic non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia have haemolysis even in the absence of an exogenous trigger. These individuals must be regarded as being at high risk of severe exacerbation of haemolysis following the administration of any of these drugs. 5.
 EnterMyGlobe |
Prepared on 01 Jan 2008 by teekoonhien |
 prev |
 home |
 next |