Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency both in red blood cells and lenses of the normal and cataractous native population of Cukurova, the southern part of Turkey. Part I.

Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was measured in both red blood cells and lenses of persons with cataracts living in Cukurova, the southern part of Turkey, where G6PD deficiency is well documented. The incidence of red blood cell G6PD deficiency among the patients with cataract (33.3%) was significantly higher than that in individuals with clear lenses (8.2%). The incidence of lens G6PD deficiency in a total of 52 patients with cataract was 52%. Of the lens G6PD-deficient cases, 46.2 and 28.6% of female and male patients, respectively, also showed red blood cell G6PD deficiency.