Prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in the Croatian Adriatic coast population

Background. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency among the population of the Croatian Adriatic Coast, part of the Mediterranean basin. Methods. The fluorescent spot test was used to screen 2,726 randomly select ed high school students in the Croatian Adriatic coastal area. Fluorescence readings were performed at the beginning and at 3, 6, 10, and 25 min of in cubation. Results were classified into the following three groups: bright f luorescence (BF), weak fluorescence (WF), and no fluorescence (NF). All NF and WF samples at 3 min were quantitatively measured using the spectrophoto metric method. Results. Twelve persons, 10 boys and 2 girls, were found to be deficient in G-6-PD, rendering a 0.44% prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency. All NF samples at fluorescent spot test were G-6-PD-deficient. WF at 3 min of the incubati on period was present in 33 (1.2%) subjects, and only 2 (6%) were true posi tive. Fluorescence reading at 10 min of incubation omits five (41%) of the G-6-PD deficient samples. Conclusions. Prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in the Croatian Adriatic coast al population is 0.44%. Fluorescent spot test for moderate enzyme deficienc y is reliable in early fluorescence reading. (C) 2001 IMSS. Published by El sevier Science Inc.