Favism, fava bean

Oxidized, denatured hemoglobin forms aggregates, which can become attached to the inner surface of the red cell, known as Heinz bodies. This leads to damage to the red cell, which may result in direct destruction of the cell, which can be shown in vitro, or removal from the circulation by the spleen in vivo. When caused by Fava beans, the syndrome is known as Favism. As the deficient enzyme (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) is intrinsic to the red cell, exposure of such cells in vitro to suitable drugs will lead to cell damage and death. 

Favism Some forms of G6PD deficiency, for example the Mediterranean variant, are particularly susceptible to the hemolytic effect of the fava bean, a dietary staple in the Mediterranean region. Favism, the hemolytic effect of ingesting fava beans, is not observed in all individuals with G6PD deficiency, but all patients with favism have G6PD deficiency. 

A much investigated but not yet fully understood happening is the cause of favism, the hemolytic episode occurring in some Mediterranean people after eating fava beans favism occurs only in persons with... 

Fava beans cause a severe illness, favism, in individuals who have a particular genetic deficiency. It occurs only in men, and its incidence is very high in some communities. As many as 50 per cent of male Sephardic Jews from Kurdistan suffer the deficiency, which reduces the level of... 

It is believed that the aglycone components of these substances, called divicine and isouramil, respectively, can oxidize GSH. Individuals who eat fresh fava beans are protected to a certain extent from malaria. A condition known as favism results when some glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient individuals develop a severe hemolytic anemia after eating the beans. Explain why. 

Associated with favism due to ingestion of fava beans... 

Favism Hemolytic anemia due to the ingestion of fava beans or after inhalation of poUen from the Vicia fava plant hy persons with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient erythrocytes. [NiH]... 

Some substance in the fava bean seems to be responsible for a similar hemolytic process. Genetic transmission of sensitivity to the fava bean has not been well studied, but the disease is prevalent in man. The similarity between favism and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is evidenced by two different observations. When studies of the contents of glutathi-... 

A moderately severe form, in which there is between 10% and 50% of the normal activity of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase in red blood cells. The abnormal enzyme is unstable, so that older red blood cells have low activity but younger cells have nearly normal activity. This means that the haemolytic crisis is self-limiting, as only older red blood cells are lysed. This is the form of favism found among people of Afto-Caribbean descent, and crises are rarely precipitated by consumption of fava beans. 

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