Research Article
Haemolysis complicating viral hepatitis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.
Br Med J 1975; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5950.131 (Published 18 January 1975) Cite this as: Br Med J 1975;1:131- T K Chan,
- D Todd
Abstract
Out of 20 patients with viral hepatitis whose glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) levels were normal, 14 had clinical evidence of a mild to moderate degree of haemolysis but in all the patients studied the half life of chromium-51-labelled red cells was shortened. Out of 18 viral hepatitis patients deficient in G-6-PD 17 had clinical evidence of haemolysis, and in eight this was more severe than in the group with normal G-6-PD values. Massive intravascular haemolysis occurred in four, three of whom died. The massive haemolysis was attributed to the presence of additional drug-induced oxidative stress to the G-6-PD-deficient red cells.