G6PD deficiency is most prevalent in which group?

G6PD deficiency is most prevalent in which group?

• A. Asian females
• B. Caucasian males
• C. African-American males
• D. Hispanic females

Answer: (C)

G6PD deficiency is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, so males are affected more often since they have a single X chromosome. In populations of African descent, the G6PD A- variant is common, which increases overall prevalence among African-American males. Females typically need two defective X chromosomes to show the condition (or have skewed X-inactivation), so they are less frequently affected and more often just carriers. Because of both the inheritance pattern and higher variant frequency in this population, African-American males have the highest prevalence among the groups listed.

G6PD deficiency is inherited in an X-linked recessive pattern, so males are affected more often since they have a single X chromosome. In populations of African descent, the G6PD A- variant is common, which increases overall prevalence among African-American males. Females typically need two defective X chromosomes to show the condition (or have skewed X-inactivation), so they are less frequently affected and more often just carriers. Because of both the inheritance pattern and higher variant frequency in this population, African-American males have the highest prevalence among the groups listed.