Question

The African variant of G6PD deficiency results in a mildly reduced half-life of G6PD, thus leading to mild intravascular hemolysis with oxidative stress. What is the effect of the African variant of G6PD deficiency on the half-life of G6PD?

1) The half-life of G6PD is significantly reduced
2) The half-life of G6PD is mildly reduced
3) The half-life of G6PD is not affected
4) The half-life of G6PD is increased

Answer 1

The African variant of G6PD deficiency causes a mildly reduced half-life of the enzyme, leading to potential oxidative damage to red blood cells when exposed to certain triggers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The African variant of G6PD deficiency leads to a mildly reduced half-life of G6PD. This variant results in a reduced level of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase within red blood cells. Since G6PD is crucial for protecting red blood cells from oxidative damage by maintaining the level of reduced glutathione, a reduction in its half-life can lead to mild intravascular hemolysis under oxidative stress conditions, such as exposure to certain foods, medicines, or infections. This mild reduction in the half-life of G6PD can have significant implications for individuals carrying the deficiency. For example, it has been linked with an increased prevalence of conditions like diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension in Caribbean populations. Furthermore, since G6PD deficiency is an X-linked recessive disorder, it predominantly affects males, but female carriers can also exhibit symptoms due to lyonization. Avoidance of known oxidant triggers is essential for managing the condition. Therefore, the correct answer is option 2).