What is the G6PD test?
What Is the G6PD Test?
The G6PD test is a blood test that measures how much of this enzyme you have in your blood. If you have low amounts, you have a condition called G6PD deficiency.
What Is G6PD Deficiency?
G6PD deficiency is a hereditary condition caused by a mutation, or a change, in your G6PD gene. This gene tells your body to make the G6PD enzyme, so a mutation will lower the amount of this useful protein in your body.
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Not everyone who has G6PD deficiency has other health problems. The deficiency alone is not enough to cause anemia or problems with your red blood cells. However, individuals who already have this mutation can have new symptoms triggered by outside sources.
These triggers raise the number of reactive oxygen species in your body. When you have an increase in compounds and not enough G6PD to clear them, you can get sick. These triggers include:
- Eating fava beans
- Inhaling pollen from a fava plant
- Viral infections
- Bacterial infections
- Some antibiotics
- Some sulfa medicines
- Malaria medicines
- Acetylsalicylic acid, or Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
Why You Might Need the G6PD Test
Your doctor might order the G6PD test if you have these symptoms:
- Severe tiredness
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Fast heartbeat
- Yellow skin
- Yellow eyes
- Dark urine
- Enlarged spleen
- Back pain
- Belly pain
- Weakness
- Confusion
If your baby is born with jaundice, or yellow skin and eyes, they might have G6PD deficiency. It’s common for babies to have jaundice in the first few days of life. If it lasts past 2 weeks and they have dark urine, pale stools, and high bilirubin levels, your doctor might test for G6PD deficiency.
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