G6PD deficiency in pediatrics: A narrative review on medications, vitamins, dyes, oxidative agents, and clinical implications in pediatric management
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i2.50608Keywords:
Hemolysis, Pediatrics, Drug-induced hemolysis, Food additives, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, Public health.Abstract
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most prevalent hereditary enzymopathy worldwide and represents a significant clinical challenge, particularly within pediatric practice. Although widely discussed in hematology, the condition remains underrecognized in routine pediatric care, leading to diagnostic gaps, inappropriate prescriptions, and an increased risk of hemolysis triggered by oxidative agents. This study conducted a narrative literature review aimed at identifying, classifying, and analyzing medications, vitamins, food dyes, and everyday substances capable of triggering hemolysis in pediatric individuals with G6PD deficiency.deficiency. Findings reveal substantial gaps in medical training, inconsistencies among scientific databases, and a lack of standardized safety recommendations, all of which hinder appropriate clinical decision-making. The review proposes an updated classification organized in frameworks (contraindicated, controversial/cautionary, and generally safe substances).
References
Beutler, E. (1994). G6PD deficiency. Blood. 84(11), 3613–36.
Beutler, E. & Duparc, S. (2007). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and antimalarial drug development. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 77(4), 779–89.
Cappellini, M. D. & Fiorelli, G. (2008). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. The Lancet. 371(9606), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60073-2.
Casarin, S. T., Porto, A. R., Gabatz, R. I. B., Bonow, C. A., Ribeiro, J. P. & Mota, M. S. (2020). Tipos de revisão de literatura. Journal of Nursing and Health.J. nurs. health. 10(n.esp.):e20104031.
Fernandes, J. M. B., Vieira, L. T., & Castelhano, M. V. C. (2023). Revisão narrativa enquanto metodologia científica significativa: reflexões técnico-formativas. REDES – Revista Educacional da Sucesso. 3(1), 1-7. ISSN: 2763-6704.
Frank, J. E. (2005). Diagnosis and management of G6PD deficiency. American Family Physician. 72(7), 1277–82.
Gil, A. C. (2012). Como elaborar projetos de pesquisa. (4ed). Editora Atlas.
Luzzatto, L., Nannelli, C. & Notaro, R. (2016). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Hemolytic Anemias and Anemia Due to Acute Blood Loss, p. 373–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-26251-3_18.
Mehta, A., Mason, P. J. & Vulliamy, T. J. (2000). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Baillière’s Best Practice & Research Clinical Haematology. 13(1), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.1053/beha.1999.0058.
Minucci, A., Giardina, B., Zuppi, C. & Capoluongo, E. (2009). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase laboratory assay: How, when, and why? IUBMB Life. 61(1), 27–34. https://doi.org/10.1002/iub.131
Nkhoma, E. T. et al. (2009). The global prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases. 42(3), 267–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcmd.2008.12.005.
Pereira, A. S., Shitsuka, D. M., Parreira, F. J. & Shitsuka, R. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. Editora da UFSM. https://repositorio.ufsm.br/bitstream/handle/1/15824/Lic_Computacao_Metodologia-Pesquisa-Cientifica.pdf?sequence=1.
Relling, M. V. et al. (2012). Clinical pharmacogenetics implementation consortium guidelines for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase genotype and rasburicase therapy. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 91(5), 906–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/clpt.2012.23.
Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, Elsevier. 104(C), 333-9. Doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039.
WHO. (1989). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 67(6), 601–11.
WHO. (2022). WHO model list of essential medicines. Geneva: WHO.
Youngster, I. et al. (2010). Medications and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: An evidence-based review. Drug Safety. 33(9), 713–26.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jossineide Manuela da Silva Cordeiro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
