What's G6PD deficiency?
G6PD deficiency is an inherited difference in red blood cells in which oxidative stressors, such as certain drugs or eating fava beans, can trigger sudden episodes of red-cell breakdown (acute hemolysis).
| Also indexed as | OMIM:300908, MONDO:0010480 |
|---|---|
| Features mapped | 8 |
| Treatments mapped | 2 |
| Published sources | 12 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-04 |
Signs and symptoms
Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia
When red cells break down in G6PD deficiency, unconjugated bilirubin rises in the blood, which can cause jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Hemoglobinuria
Hemoglobinuria means the urine turns dark because pigment from broken-down red blood cells passes into it. It can appear during an episode of red-cell breakdown.
X-linked dominant inheritance
the G6PD gene sits on the X chromosome, so g6pd deficiency is inherited in an X-linked pattern.
Jaundice
Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes that happens when red blood cells break down. It is one of the common features of G6PD deficiency, including in newborns.
Abdominal pain
Belly (abdominal) pain can occur during an acute hemolytic episode, and is more common in children whose episode was set off by fava beans.
Prolonged neonatal jaundice
G6PD deficiency is an important cause of neonatal jaundice, which can be more severe or last longer than usual and sometimes needs treatment.
Reticulocytosis
The bone marrow responds to red-cell destruction by releasing young red cells, so a high reticulocyte count is seen during hemolysis in G6PD deficiency.
Fava bean-induced hemolytic anemia
Favism is the name for an acute episode of red-cell breakdown set off by eating fava beans. It is a well-known cause of sudden hemolytic anemia in people with G6PD deficiency.
How it is diagnosed
Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism)
Diagnosed using: STANDARD G6PD Biosensor (point-of-care test).
“Quantitative point-of-care testing using STANDARD G6PD Biosensor demonstrates superior diagnostic performance, particularly for identifying intermediate G6PD…”
Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism)
Diagnosed using: bite cells on peripheral smear.
“Laboratory investigations revealed anemia with evidence of hemolysis (high reticulocytes count, high indirect bilirubin, bite cells in peripheral smear).”
Treatment and management
What the research describes, not a recommendation. Treatment decisions belong with your clinician.
This covers treatments that appear in the published research mapped here. Investigational and experimental therapies are not included, so their absence is a boundary of this map, not a sign they do not exist.
blood transfusion
severe hemolysis in g6pd deficiency can be managed by stopping the triggering agent together with blood transfusion and supportive care.
Used to help with: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism).
“The patient improved with discontinuation of the offending agents, blood transfusion, and supportive care, with stabilization of hemoglobin and gradual recovery of renal function.”
phototherapy
newborns with g6pd deficiency and jaundice are often treated with phototherapy, and may need it for a longer time than other newborns.
Used to help with: Prolonged neonatal jaundice.
“A total of 35 G6PD-deficient neonates required phototherapy (PT) for more than…”
Triggers to avoid
In this condition, certain drugs, foods, or other exposures can set off an acute episode in people who are affected, even when they are otherwise well. The research mapped here describes the agents below. This is information, not a recommendation: what to avoid and what is safe for any individual is a conversation for their own care team.
Fava beans
Eating fava beans is a well-recognized trigger of acute hemolysis in people with G6PD deficiency and is something to avoid.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“…exposure to oxidative stressors, such as drugs or fava bean ingestion, can trigger acute hemolytic episodes…”
Methylene blue
Methylene blue is a drug that should be avoided in G6PD deficiency because it can worsen red-cell breakdown.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“These patients should not receive methylene blue to avoid worsening hemolysis.”
Dapsone
Dapsone is a drug used for some infections and immune conditions. It can trigger red-cell breakdown in people with G6PD deficiency and is one to avoid or use only with caution.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“Dapsone may cause haemolysis, particularly in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.”
Pegloticase
Pegloticase is a drug for severe gout. It can trigger oxidative red-cell breakdown in people with G6PD deficiency, so G6PD status should be checked before it is used.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“Pegloticase is an effective therapy for refractory gout but carries a risk of oxidative hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.”
oxidative stress
in g6pd deficiency, exposure to oxidative stressors such as certain drugs or fava beans can trigger an acute hemolytic episode, where red blood cells break down.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a red cell enzymopathy in which exposure to oxidative stressors, such as drugs or fava bean ingestion, can trigger acute hemolytic episodes (AHEs).”
infection
in g6pd deficiency, an infection can be one of the exposures that brings on acute hemolytic anemia, alongside fava beans and certain drugs.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in erythrocytes causes acute haemolytic anaemia upon exposure to fava beans, drugs, or infection; and it predisposes to neonatal jaundice.”
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
in g6pd deficiency, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been reported to worsen the condition, especially alongside a viral infection.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“…an underlying G6PD deficiency was being exacerbated by viral infection and simultaneous ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs…”
aspirin
aspirin has been linked to hemolysis in people with g6pd deficiency, reported mainly with high doses within a few days of taking it.
Reported in the research mapped here as able to provoke: Hemolytic anemia, G6PD deficient (favism) in people with this condition.
“Aspirin-related hemolysis in G6PD-deficient individuals was generally reported among patients who received high-dose supplements within several days after ingestion.”
How to read the evidence labels
Where this comes from
This guide is built from 12 published source(s). Every claim above links back to one of them. Click any source ID to read the original on PubMed.
Take it further
Printed, source-linked documents built from this condition's graph — ready to bring to an appointment or attach to a coverage request. Every claim carries its published source, the same as this guide.