Toxoplasmosis in a group of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient patients

Authors

• Khalid F. Tabbara, The Eye Center, The Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmogy, The Department of Ophthalmology, Department of Medicine, King Saud University, PO Box 55307, Riyadh 11534, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (1) 4623094. Fax. +966 (1) 4629675. E-mail: k.tabbara{at}nesma.net.sa
• Nariman A. Sharara, The Eye Center and The Eye Foundation for Reseach in Ophthalmology, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Abdul-Kareem Al-Momen, Department of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This was a retrospective study that aimed at evaluating the relative risk of Toxoplasma infection in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency as compared to a control group with no glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. METHODS: Ninety-one blood donor volunteers had serology testing from Toxoplasma gondii and were screened for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency by a qualitative method using fluorescent spot test. They were all males and their ages ranged from 17 to 52 years. RESULTS: Fifty-three persons (58%) were glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient and 38 (42%) were glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase normal. In the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient group, 31 (58.5%) had positive titers for Toxoplasma; while in the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase normal group 9 persons (24%) had positive titers for Toxoplasma. The relative risk of infection was 2.5 times more in the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient group, a statistically significant difference with a p value of 0.002. CONCLUSION: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency seems to increase the risk for Toxoplasma infection by 2.5 fold probably due to decreased killing effect, of phagocytic cells.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

330

Last Page

332

Recommended Citation

Tabbara, Khalid F.; Sharara, Nariman A.; and Al-Momen, Abdul-Kareem (2001) "Toxoplasmosis in a group of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient patients," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 22: Iss. 4, Article 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/1658-3175.1406