Transient inhibition of glucose utilization by erythrocytes during the acute stage of typhoid fever

The exact reason for hemolysis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficie nt (G6PD) erythrocytes in patients with typhoid fever is unknown. Therefore , glucose utilization by normal and G6PD-deficient erythrocytes was measure d during incubation with plasma of healthy controls as well as from patient s in acute or recovery stages of typhoid fever. Glucose utilization in norm al and G6PD-deficient erythrocytes significantly decreased compared to the controls when incubated with plasma of patients with acute typhoid fever, w hich normalized to the baseline after recovery from typhoid fever, suggesti ng an acquired alteration in G6PD enzyme properties by Salmonella typhi or its endotoxins.