G6PD
Medical abbreviation · Hematology and Oncology
| Stands for | Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
G6PD stands for Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, a hematology and oncology abbreviation.
Enzyme that protects red blood cells from oxidative damage; its inherited deficiency, the most common human enzyme deficiency, affects an estimated 400 million people worldwide. Deficient individuals can develop sudden hemolysis after infections, fava beans or certain drugs.
Example: Dark urine and jaundice after starting dapsone; bite cells on smear, G6PD activity low.
Usage notes
The gene is on the X chromosome, so deficiency is more common and usually more severe in males. Trigger drugs include primaquine, tafenoquine, dapsone, rasburicase, methylene blue and some sulfonamides, so testing is required before primaquine, tafenoquine and rasburicase. Reaction to fava beans is called favism. Testing during acute hemolysis can be falsely normal because older, deficient cells have been destroyed.
Related abbreviations
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- FOLFOX – Folinic acid (leucovorin), fluorouracil, oxaliplatin
- FVL – Factor V Leiden
- GBM – Glioblastoma multiforme
- GVHD – Graft-versus-host disease
- HbS – Hemoglobin S
- HCT – Hematopoietic cell transplantation
- HD – Hodgkin disease
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.