A3-year-old child with fever was given aspirin. It resulted in intensified erythrocyte haemolysis. Hemolytic anemia might have been caused by congenital insufficiency of the following enzyme:

Answer options

1. Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase
2. y-glutamiltransferase
3. Glucose 6-phosphatase
4. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase
5. Glycogen phosphorylase

Explanation

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase participates in the pentose phosphate pathway, a metabolic pathway that supplies reducing energy to cells (such as erythrocytes) by maintaining the level of the co-enzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). The NADPH in turn maintains the level of glutathione in these cells that help protect the red blood cells against oxidative damage from compounds like hydrogen peroxide. The deficiency of this enzyme, therefore, predisposes RBCs breakdown. It is an inborn error of metabolism.