Severe Haemolysis in Patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Secondary to Dengue Fever: Analysis of 3 cases from Oman.

Dengue fever (DF) is a viral fever transmitted by the Aedes species of mosquitoes. Globalisation has led to worldwide spread of DF including Oman. High incidence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is present in Oman's population but is often undiagnosed. We report 3 G6PD-deficient patients admitted in a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman in 2023 with DF that later triggered haemolysis. It proved fatal in 1 case and caused irreversible renal damage requiring dialysis in the other case. Both DF and G6PD deficiency can cause bleeding. Both need supportive treatment. G6PD deficiency with concomitant viral infections have been reported to increase morbidity and mortality. Haemolysis triggered due to DF in G6PD deficient patients has not been reported in the literature. If the clinical course or haemolytic pattern in DF patients deviates from what is to be expected, an associated haemolytic disorder should be considered especially in regions with high prevalence.