glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd) deficiency

glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd) deficiency is the most prevalent enzymopathy in mankind. it has sex-linked in­heritance. this enzyme exists in all cells.  g6pd deficiency increases the sensitivity of red blood cells to oxidative dam­age. g6pd deficiency was discovered in 1950 when some people suffered hemolytic anemia as a result of taking antimalar­ial drugs (primaquin). most people with g6pd deficiency do not have any symptoms, till they are exposed to certain medi­cations, fava beans and infections; and then their red blood cells are hemolyzed. the degree of hemolysis changes accord­ing to the degree of enzyme deficiency and the oxidant agent exposure. g6pd deficiency has many different variants and medi­terranean variant is the most common mutation in the world. g6pd deficiency is considered a health problem world­wide, especially in asia, middle east and mediterranean countries. in this article, we have reviewed the importance and func­tion of g6pd enzyme, incidence rate of g6pd deficiency in the world and iran, genetic and variants of this enzyme, clini­cal manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of the enzyme deficiency.