Favism

Favism.

Favism in London.

Favism is an acute haemolytic anaemia caused by an acquired allergy to a protein of the broad bean (Viciafava). Reports of the disease date from before the fifth century B.C. and in a good review of the literature Luisada (1941) points out that favism used to have a very wide distribution in the Mediterranean basin. It now occurs particularly in the Sardinians, who seem to have retained the mor...

Favism: disordered erythrocyte calcium homeostasis.

The biochemical events that take place during acute hemolysis of G6PD-deficient subjects in favism are far from being elucidated. Evidence is here reported for a constantly and heavily disordered calcium homeostasis in the erythrocytes from seven favic patients. The abnormality, ie, a significantly impaired calcium ATPase activity and a parallel marked increase of intracellular calcium levels, ...

Ophthalmological Complications of Favism.

To the Editorial Committee of the BRMSH JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY SIRs,-I read with interest the article of Choremis, Joannides, and Kyriakides on " Severe Ophthalmological Complications following Favism" (Brit. J. Ophthal. (1960) 44, 353). Since the authors state that "such complications were encountered for the first time and no information was found in the literature", I should like to refer ...

Favism in Childhood *

"Favism" defines an acute hemolytic episode and its sequelae following ingestion of the bean or inhalation of the pollen of Vicia faba (broad bean or fava bean) in an individual probably sensitized by previous contact of a similar nature. The features of this syndrome and its potentially widespread occurrence in this country,t together with an excellent account of its prevalence in Italy, were ...