Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and idiopathic presenile cataract in Dalmatia, Croatia.

BACKGROUND

Impaired activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) has been suggested as a risk factor in cataractogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the G6PD activity level in 89 male subjects of Dalmatian origin with idiopathic presenile cataracts.

METHODS

G6PD activity was determined by a quantitative spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS

Of 89 males with presenile cataracts only one (1.1%) had G6PD deficiency. The G6PD deficiency prevalence rate among males with presenile cataracts is not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the general population of Dalmatia (0.75% among men).

INTERPRETATION: The results of this study suggest that G6PD deficiency does not represent a pathogenetic factor in presenile cataract, at least not in the population of the southern part of Croatia.