Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency - Treatment

Alternative Names

G-6-PD deficiency; Hemolytic anemia due to G6PD deficiency; Anemia - hemolytic due to G6PD deficiency

Treatment:

Treatment may involve:

Medicines to treat an infection, if present
Stopping any drugs that are causing red blood cell destruction
Transfusions, in some cases

Expectations (prognosis):

Spontaneous recovery from a hemolytic episode is the usual outcome.

Complications:

Rarely, kidney failure or death may occur following a severe hemolytic event.

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of this condition.

Call your health care provider if you have been diagnosed with G6PD deficiency and symptoms do not disappear after treatment.

Blood cells

Reviewed last on: 3/28/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Gregg XT, Prchal JT. Red blood cell enzymopathies. In: Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; 2008:chap 45.

Golan DER. Hemolytic anemias: red cell membrane and metabolic defects. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 165.

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