Study of macular and optic disk blood flow by angio‐OCT in Glucose‐6‐Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient men and age‐related G6PD‐normal subjects

Purpose: The reported prevalence of Glucose‐6‐Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Sardina, Italy, ranges from 8% to 15%. Hemizygous males have totally deficient erythrocytes. Evidence indicates that patients with G6PD deficiency are protected against ischemic heart and cerebrovascular disease, colorectal cancer, retinal vein occlusion, and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to study the macular and optic disk blood flow by angio‐OCT in G6PD‐deficient men and age‐related G6PD‐normal subjects and ascertain whether, or not, there are statistically significant differences between the two groups Methods: 22 G6PD‐deficient men and 22 perfectly age‐matched G6PD‐normal controls were examined at the Ophthalmology Unit, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. A complete review of the medical history and a complete ophthalmological examination, including ETDRS best corrected visual acuity, slit‐lamp biomicroscopy of the anterior segment, applanation tonometry, and fundus examination, was carried out. An HD 6‐mm Angio‐Retina and a 4.5‐mm Angio Disk (RT‐Vue, Optovue XR‐100 with Angio Vue, CA) examination were also performed Results: Only 1 eye per patients was included in the analysis, for a total of 22 eyes in each group. All the exported parameters about retinal and disk flow were evaluated. No statistical differences between the two groups were found, even after controlling for the effects of age, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.9). Conclusions: Results suggest that G6PD‐deficient and G6PD‐normal men have similar macular and optic disk blood flow. Larger scale studies are necessary to confirm these findings.