Current investigations on clinical pharmacology and therapeutics of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is estimated to affect more than 400 million people world-wide. This X-linked genetic deficiency puts stress on red blood cells (RBC), which may be further aug-mented under certain pathophysiological conditions and drug treatments. These conditions can cause hemolytic anemia and eventually lead to multi-organ failure and mortality. G6PD is involved in the rate-limiting step of the pentose phosphate pathway, which generates reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). In RBCs, the NADPH/G6PD pathway is the only source for recycling reduced glutathione and provides protection from oxidative stress. Susceptibility of G6PD deficient populations to certain drug treatments and potential risks of hemolysis are im-portant public health issues. A number of clinical trials are currently in progress investigating clinical factors as-sociated with G6PD deficiency, validation of new diagnostic kits for G6PD deficiency, and evaluating drug safety, efficacy, and pathophysiology. More than 25 clinical studies in G6PD populations are currently in progress or have just been completed that have been examined for clinical pharmacology and potential therapeutic implica-tions of G6PD deficiency. The information on clinical conditions, interventions, purpose, outcome, and status of these clinical trials has been studied. A critical review of ongoing clinical investigations on pharmacology and therapeutics of G6PD deficiency should be highly important for researchers, clinical pharmacologists, pharma-ceutical companies, and global public health agencies. The information may be useful for developing strategies for treatment and control of hemolytic crisis and potential drug toxicities in G6PD deficient patients. (c) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

G6PD deficiency is a global genetic defect that can lead to hemolytic anemia, multi-organ failure, and mortality. Multiple clinical trials are currently investigating clinical factors, new diagnostic kits, and drug safety and efficacy in G6PD populations.