G6PD distribution in sub-Saharan Africa and potential risks of using chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine based treatments for COVID-19
Author
da Rocha, Jorge E BOthman, Houcemeddine
Tiemessen, Caroline T
Botha, Gerrit
Ramsay, Michèle
Masimirembwa, Collen
Adebamowo, Clement
Choudhury, Ananyo
Brandenburg, Jean-Tristan
Matshaba, Mogomotsi
Simo, Gustave
Gamo, Francisco-Javier
Hazelhurst, Scott
Date
2021-07-23Journal
Pharmacogenomics JournalPublisher
Springer NatureType
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine have been proposed as potential treatments for COVID-19. These drugs have warning labels for use in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Analysis of whole genome sequence data of 458 individuals from sub-Saharan Africa showed significant G6PD variation across the continent. We identified nine variants, of which four are potentially deleterious to G6PD function, and one (rs1050828) that is known to cause G6PD deficiency. We supplemented data for the rs1050828 variant with genotype array data from over 11,000 Africans. Although this variant is common in Africans overall, large allele frequency differences exist between sub-populations. African sub-populations in the same country can show significant differences in allele frequency (e.g. 16.0% in Tsonga vs 0.8% in Xhosa, both in South Africa, p = 2.4 × 10-3). The high prevalence of variants in the G6PD gene found in this analysis suggests that it may be a significant interaction factor in clinical trials of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 in Africans.Rights/Terms
© 2021. The Author(s).Keyword
Clinical Trials as TopicChloroquine--adverse effects
COVID-19
Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency--genetics
Hydroxychloroquine--adverse effects
Africa South of the Sahara
Identifier to cite or link to this item
http://hdl.handle.net/10713/16394ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1038/s41397-021-00242-8
Scopus Count
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