![](/imgs/covers/jp_cover.jpg)
|
Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India
ISSN: 0022-3859 EISSN: 0022-3859
Vol. 53, No. 3, 2007, pp. 193-202
|
Bioline Code: jp07072
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
|
|
Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 53, No. 3, 2007, pp. 193-202
en |
Present status of understanding on the G6PD deficiency and natural selection
Tripathy, V. & Reddy, B.M.
Abstract
G6PD deficiency is a common hemolytic genetic disorder, particularly in the areas endemic to malaria. Individuals are generally asymptomatic and hemolytic anemia occurs when some anti-malarial drugs or other oxidizing chemicals are administered. It has been proposed that G6PD deficiency provides protection against malaria. Maintaining of G6PD deficient alleles at polymorphic proportions is complicated because of the X-linked nature of G6PD deficiency. A comprehensive review of the literature on the hypothesis of malarial protection and the nature of the selection is being presented. Most of the epidemiological, in vitro and in vivo studies report selection for G6PD deficiency. Analysis of the G6PD gene also reveals that G6PD-deficient alleles show some signatures of selection. However, the question of how this polymorphism is being maintained remains unresolved because the selection/fitness coefficients for the different genotypes in the two sexes have not been established. Prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Indian caste and tribal populations and the different variants reported has also been reviewed.
Keywords
G6PD deficiency, India, malaria, natural selection, X-linked
|
|
© Copyright 2007 Journal of Postgraduate Medicine. Alternative site location: http://www.jpgmonline.com
|
|