Incidence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Tunisian populations

Screening for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency was performed on male students originating from several towns in Tunisia. Three hundred and twenty-five assays were made, allowing calculation of the mean value and standard deviation of G6PD (6.32 +/- 0.72 U/g Hb), the incidence of the deficiency (1.84%) and its geographic distribution in Tunisia. G6PD electrophoresis in 54 subjects showed marked predominance of the B+ type (96.2%) compared with the A+ type (1.96%). Three deficient subjects displayed an electrophotetic mobility identical to that of the A+ type of G6PD.