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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Tabbara
K F
KF
The Eye Center, The Eye Foundation for Research in Ophthalmogy, Department of Ophthalmology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. k.tabbara@nesma.net.sa
Sharara
N A
NA
Al-Momen
A K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D009249:NADP; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D005947:Glucose