Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in female octogenarians, nanogenarians, and centenarians.

Background: Age-related skewing of X-chromosome inactivation leading to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in elderly women in a population with prevalent G6PD gene mutations was investigated.

Methods: G6PD activity was measured biochemically. G6PD mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and allele-specific extension, and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry and Sequenom MassARRAY.