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Table 6 G6PD activity level and possibility to administer primaquine

From: Assessment of CareStart G6PD rapid diagnostic test and CareStart G6PD biosensor in Mauritania

G6PD activity level

Males (n, %)

Females (n, %)

< 30% (deficient)

1 (1.4)

10 (4.0)

30–80% (intermediate)

13 (17.6)

34 (13.7)

> 80% (normal activity)

20 (27.0)

65 (26.1)

Unreliable due to anaemia

40 (54.1)

140 (56.2)

Total

74 (100)

249 (100)

  1. A standard dose of 8-aminoquinolines (primaquine or tafenoquine) can be administered in patients with normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity [16]. A weekly dose (0.75 mg base) of primaquine for eight weeks can alternatively be prescribed to patients with intermediate or deficient activity. 8-aminoquinolines are contraindicated in pregnant or breastfeeding women and infants < 6 months old [16]. The category “unreliable” level denotes the presence of anaemia which renders G6PD measurement unreliable. In anaemic patients, known causes of anaemia should first be corrected and G6PD activity re-evaluated after several weeks
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Infectious Diseases of Poverty

ISSN: 2049-9957

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