Which drug can be given in G6PD deficiency?
**Core Concept**
Chloroquine is a medication that can be safely administered in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a genetic disorder that makes red blood cells more susceptible to oxidative stress and hemolysis.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Chloroquine is an antimalarial drug that works by inhibiting heme polymerization and inducing oxidative stress in the malaria parasite. However, unlike primaquine, another antimalarial drug, chloroquine does not generate significant amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can cause red blood cell hemolysis in G6PD-deficient individuals. This is because chloroquine's primary mechanism of action does not involve the generation of ROS, unlike primaquine, which is metabolized to a compound that induces oxidative stress and hemolysis. Therefore, chloroquine can be safely used to treat malaria in patients with G6PD deficiency.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option B:** Probenecid is a uricosuric agent used to treat gout, and it is not known to be safe in G6PD deficiency.
**Option C:** Aminopyrine is a non-narcotic analgesic that can induce oxidative stress and is contraindicated in G6PD deficiency.
**Option D:** Primaquine is an antimalarial drug that is known to cause hemolysis in G6PD-deficient individuals due to its oxidative properties.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
When treating malaria in patients with G6PD deficiency, it is essential to use antimalarial drugs that do not generate significant amounts of ROS, such as chloroquine or mefloquine. Primaquine and other oxidative stress-inducing antimalarials should be avoided due to the risk of hemolysis.
**β Correct Answer: A. Chloroquine**