Two Cases of Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency Presenting as Symptomatic Methemoglobinemia with Persistently Low Saturations After Fava Bean Ingestion in United Arab Emirates

We report two cases of one previously healthy child and another known to have G6PD deficiency, who presented with desaturation despite their stable clinical appearance, which later was attributed to methemoglobinemia (MetHb) that was precipitated by fava beans ingestion. When hemolytic crisis occurs, certain G6PD deficient patients might develop cyanosis and show evidence of concurrent methemoglobinemia. In conclusion, Methemoglobinemia is a rare but important cause of persistently low saturation.