Favism is an acute hemolytic syndrome occurring in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient individuals after the consumption of fava beans. The highest incidence is in boys aged 2-6 years. We report a 56-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with recurrent syncope attacks due to favism. In our knowledge, this is the first report of favism-caused syncope in an adult patient without a G6PD deficiency diagnosis in the past and diagnosed in ED.
Kapoor WNSyncope. N Engl J Med2000; 343: 1856-1862.
2.
Sun BC, Emond JA, and Camargo CA Jr.Characteristics and admission patterns of patients presenting with syncope to US emergency departments, 1992-2000. Acad Emerg Med2004; 11: 1029-1034.
3.
Mehta ABGlucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Postgraduate Med J1994; 70: 871-877.
4.
Aksu TA, Esen F., Dolunay MS, Alicigüzel Y., Yücel G., Cali S., et al. Erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (1.1.1.49) deficiency in Antalya province, Turkey: an epidemiologic and biochemical study. Am J Epidemiol1990; 131: 1094-1097.
5.
Oliviera S., Pinheiro S., Gomes P., Horta AB, and Castro ASFavism. Acta Med Port2000; 13:237-240.
6.
Schuurman M. , Waardenburg DV, Costa JD, Niemarkt H., and Leroy P.Severe hemolysis and methemoglobinemia following fava beans ingestion in glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase deficiency- case report and literature review. Eur J Pediatr2009; 168: 779-782.
7.
Carson PE, Flanagan CL, Ickes CE, and Alving ASEnzymatic deficiency in primaquine sensitive erythrocytes. Science1956; 124: 84-85.
8.
Beutler E.G6PD: population genetics and clinical manifestations. Blood Rev1996; 10: 45-52.