Haemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin, ferritin concentrations and total iron-binding capacity in erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

Erythrocyte deficiency may lead to shortened erythrocyte life-span and also influence iron metabolic processes. Haemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin and ferritin concentrations and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) were compared in 74 normal and 68 glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient subjects to investigate this possibility. All the parameters were measured using standard biochemical and immunoelectrophoretic methods. Haemoglobin and serum iron concentrations were similar in both groups of subjects. It was found that G6PD deficient subjects had significantly greater transferrin (P less than 0.001), ferritin (P less than 0.001) and TIBC (P less than 0.01) values compared to normal subjects. Some possible causes of these observations are discussed.