Question

Sulfa drugs are dangerous for patients with which genetic disorder, and why?

Answer 1

Sulfa drugs are particularly dangerous for patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD) because their red blood cells are more susceptible to breakdown due to oxidative stress when exposed to sulfa drugs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sulfa drugs can be dangerous for patients with genetic disorders that affect folate metabolism, such as Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency (G6PD). G6PD is a hereditary enzymatic defect that causes red blood cells to break down in response to certain stressors including sulfa drugs. The harmful effects occur because sulfonamides inhibit the production of dihydrofolic acid, which is crucial for DNA synthesis. While bacteria are the target of this inhibition, in individuals with G6PD, their red blood cells can also be negatively affected due to increased oxidative stress and decreased detoxification of metabolites.

In people without such deficiencies, sulfonamides are generally safer because humans obtain folate from their diet, making the drugs selectively toxic to bacteria. However, individuals with G6PD lack an enzyme that normally helps in preventing hemolytic anemia caused by oxidative damage, making it particularly dangerous to administer sulfa drugs to these patients.

Answer 2

Sulfa drugs are dangerous for patients with G6PD deficiency because they increase oxidative stress, leading to hemolytic anemia. These drugs inhibit bacterial folic acid synthesis, which can exacerbate conditions in susceptible individuals with genetic or metabolic disorders.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sulfa drugs are particularly dangerous for patients with the genetic disorder Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD). This condition impairs the body's ability to handle oxidative stress, which can be exacerbated by sulfonamides, potentially leading to a hemolytic anemia where red blood cells break down prematurely.

Sulfa drugs work by inhibiting the synthesis of folic acid in bacteria, which is necessary for nucleic acid synthesis and, thereby, cell division. This mechanism does not typically affect humans directly, since we obtain folic acid from our diet, but individuals with G6PD deficiency can experience severe side effects due to their underlying metabolic disorder.

Despite their usefulness in treating bacterial infections, taking sulfa drugs can lead to a deficiency in folic acid because these medications competitively inhibit the synthesis of folic acid by many types of microorganisms. Symptoms of such a deficiency include megablastic anemia, glossitis, gastrointestinal tract disturbances, and leucopenia. It is, therefore, important to prescribe them with caution to patients with certain genetic disorders or metabolic susceptibilities.