Possible Association between Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency and the Development of Preeclampsia

Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is acommon enzyme deficiency in the world. It's Prevalence inIran is about 12% in male & about 1% in female. The presentstudy did examine the relation between the development ofpreeclampsia and G6PD deficiency. It was investigatedwhether or not the risk of preeclampsia in G6PD deficientwomen is higher than that in normal pregnant women.A total of 400 pregnant patients with an age range of 20-34years were selected in the cities of Shiraz and Jahrom, Iran,They were on 24 weeks inside their first or second pregnancy.There were 4 cases of G6PD deficiency in preeclamtic womencompared to two cases in normal pregnant women. (OR=2.02,CI: 0.37-11.02). Although the relation between G6PD deficiencyand preeclamsia did not reach statistical significance,the higher incidence of the deficiency in preecclamtic womenmight suggest that the test for G6PD deficiency might be usedas a screening tool for preeclamsia.Iran J Med Sci 2010; 35(4): 323-326.