Is red cell from an otherwise healthy G6PD-deficient donor efficient for transfusion to fauvism patients?

Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G(6)PD) deficiency is the most common X-linked defect of enzyme pathways in human. The aim of this study was to inspect the efficacy of G(6)PD deficient red cell transfusion to G(6)PD patients, who were admitted for hemolysis after Broad bean ingestion, and to find out whether prolong management program and retransfusion are needed as severe hemolysis would take place.

This was a cross-sectional study, which was performed on patients admitted to hospital due to hemolytic anemia after broad bean ingestion in Jahrom and Shiraz medical school hospitals on February and March 2007. 2(ml) samples of transfusion blood bags, were sent to the laboratory in order to investigate the G(6)PD enzyme sufficiency. Hemoglobin level was checked six hours after blood transfusion. We compared the amount of hemoglobin level elevation after transfusion in patients received G(6)PD sufficient and G(6)PD deficient red cell using independent sample t-test.

In 114 transfused bags, 14 bags (12.3%) were G(6)PD deficient. We divided patients into two groups. Group A received G(6)PD sufficient red cell and group B were transfused with G(6)PD deficient red cell. Hemoglobin level was significantly raised after transfusion of red cell in each group. The amount of hemoglobin elevation was more in group A in comparison to group B.

Based on our study results, proper hemoglobin level would be achieved using non G(6)PD deficient red cell for transfusion to G(6)PD deficient patients.