Alcoholic liver disease in black men with G6PD deficiency.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency of the type commonly encountered in Afro-American blacks has been associated with an increased severity of viral hepatitis. Decreased activity of the enzyme has been demonstrated in liver tissue of affected individuals. We studied 21 patients with alcoholic liver disease and G6PD deficiency who were identified through the VA Cooperative Study of Sickle Trait and G6PD Deficiency and compared them with 21 black patients with alcoholic liver disease and normal G6PD levels. A trend suggested the severity of liver disease might be less in G6PD-deficient patients. We conclude that G6PD deficiency is not associated with increased severity of alcoholic liver disease.