[The role glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in pathogenesis of anemia in leptospirosis]

The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDG) of plasma and erythrocytes, levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, free hemoglobin and reticulocytes in different periods of illness were assessed in 30 men with severe icteric leptospirosis and anemia. Elevation of plasma G-6-PDG activity, levels of free hemoglobin (FH) and reticulocytes were found. Hemolysis was more pronounced at the height of the disease. One of the causes of hemolysis in severe leptospiral jaundice may be deficiency of erythrocytic G-6-PDG which is inheritable male disease. Low G-6-PDG activity of erythrocytes on the second week of the illness preceded anemia in 83.3% cases which could be a prognostic criterion of developing anemic syndrome. Combined treatment of leptospirosis with administration of tocopherol acetate resulted in a significant fall of plasma FH and G-6-PDG, of severity and duration of anemia versus the control group.