G6PD Deficiency Association [Associazione Italiana Favismo, onlus]

The G6PD Deficiency Association is a voluntary, non-profit organization that offers assistance to persons affected by the Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme deficiency and their families. Their services include helping them protect their social rights and collect their benefits, and informing and educating affected persons and the medical community on all aspects of the deficiency. Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency (G6PDD), deemed a rare disease in most countries, is an inherited, sex-linked, metabolic disorder characterized by an enzyme defect that leads to the breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) upon exposure to stresses associated with some bacterial infections or certain drugs. A deficiency of this enzyme may result in the premature destruction of red blood cells (an acute hemolytic anemia or a chronic spherocytic type) when an affected individual is exposed to certain medications or chemicals, experiences certain viral or bacterial infections, and/or inhales the pollen of, or consumes, fava beans (favism).