Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency a Balanced Polymorphism between Resistance to Malaria Infection and Hematological Abnormalities

Background and Aims: constantly showing to the scientific field the paradox between benefit and disadvantage of Glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in malaria control is the objective of this paper. Materials & Methods: It was based on the document review based on electronic manuscripts. Results: The resulting information was grouped into 4 chapters: the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and its deficiency, the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency protects against malaria parasites, need to rule out deficiency of glucose-6phosphate dehydrogenase before starting treatment of malaria by Plasmdium vivax and conclusions. Conclusions: It is concluded that this deficiency in malaria has a balanced polymorphism between resistance and infection, because it confers resistance to P. falciparum infections, but produces hemolysis in the treatment with primaquine in P. vivax. In the case of P. vivax malaria, the discarding of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, the treatment supervised by health professionals and the use for radical cure of optional schemes, to reduce the risk of hemolysis is imposed.