Peas, beans, and the Pythagorean theorem - the relevance of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in dermatology.

Glucose-6-phosphate (G6PD) deficiency is a common disease characterized by acute hemolysis induced by oxidative stress. More than 400 million subjects throughout the world carry the hereditary enzyme defect with the highest prevalences in Africa, Asia, and the Mediterranean region. In individuals affected by the erythrocytic enzymatic disorder, besides infectious diseases and diet, acute hemolytic crisis can be triggered by numerous drugs frequently used for the treatment of dermatoses. Taking into account the increasing number of immigrants from geographic regions with high prevalences of G6PD deficiency, dermatologists should be alert to the presence of disease.