Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency and Adverse Reactions to Antimalarial Drugs in Lagos State, Nigeria

Individuals lacking in Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme are selective to the use of drugs as deficiency can predispose to oxidation and subsequent hemolysis of their red blood cell. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of G6PD enzyme deficiency and correlation with adverse drug reaction to anti-malarial drugs. G6PD determination was done using Randox diagnostic kits while malaria diagnosis was done using standard microscopy technique. A total of 100 participants, comprising 44 males and 56 females (designated as group A & B) were recruited for the study. Of these numbers, 28 were G6PD deficient and 72 had normal G6PD activity. G6PD deficiency were similar in males 12 (27.3%) and in females 16(28.6%) (P=0.885). There was no statistical difference in G6PD activity with malaria parasite density (MPD) estimation (P=0.585) despite the fact that those with low G6PD activity also had low MPD than those with normal G6PD activity (415.57 ± 297.07 and 697.86 ± 1516.42 respectively). Also, among the 12 individuals who reported to having adverse drug reaction to some anti-malarials, the outcome was not statistically significant (P=0.659 and P=0.528). In conclusion, there was no relationship between G6PD activity and adverse drug reaction.