Leukocyte glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) as prognostic indicator in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

G6PD activity, estimated in 37 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) prior to therapy was found to be significantly decreased in 78.37% of the patients with ALL while it was normal in other patients. Variation in G6PD was found to be dependent on the percentage of myelocytes. Correlation analysis of leukocyte G6PD activity with karyotype indicated that patients with normal karyotype with normal G6PD activity had good prognosis while those with abnormal G6PD with abnormal karyotype had poor prognosis. Subjects with normal karyotype and abnormal G6PD and vice versa had intermediate prognosis. Thus the results clearly indicate that leukocyte G6PD may be used as a diagnostic and prognostic tool.