Selective occurrence of glutathione instability in red blood corpuscles of the various Jewish tribes

1. Experience with GSH stability test performed on blood samples to whichglucose has been added is summarized and the procedure is recommendedfor routine use for the detection of sensitive subjects.

2. Glutathione stability of erythrocytes has been studied in various population groups of Israel. No case with instable GSH has been found among Jewishsubjects originating from Eastern, Central or Western Europe. Instabilityof GSH was however found in about 20 per cent of subjects originating fromIraq and about 5 per cent of subjects originating from Yemen or North Africa.Isolated cases of this abnormality were also discovered among a small numberof persons from other Oriental or Mediterranean countries as well as amongthe Arab inhabitants of Israel.

3. The genetic analysis points to a transmission of glutathione instabilityby a sex-linked, incompletely dominant gene with variable expressivity.

4. Variable expressivity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity hasalso been detected in the defective erythrocytes.

Submitted on December 5, 1957 Accepted on April 12, 1958