[Acute hemolytic anemia caused by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency].

Glukose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is essential in protecting the red cell from oxidative damage. We report a case of acute haemolysis in a child with G6PD deficiency. Because of the severity of the anaemia, the patient was treated with blood transfusions and recovered fully. There are two main variants of G6PD deficiency (the Mediterranean variant and variant A) with different clinical profiles. Acute haemolytic attacks are induced by certain drugs, by infections or, in the Mediterranean variant, by ingestion of fava beans (favism). Increased awareness of this condition is necessary in Denmark because of increased immigration.