Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Southeast Asian Refugees Entering the United States

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited disorder of red blood cell metabolism. Affected individuals may suffer a severe hemolytic crisis when treated with primaquine, an antimalarial. A survey of 966 male Southeast Asian refugees determined that 50 (5.2%) were G6PD-deficient. This prevalence suggests that a G6PD assay should be performed prior to primaquine therapy in this high-risk population.