My name is Ramez Ethnasios.  I wanted to give you a little background as to how and why I started this website.  For some more background information on myself, scroll down farther on this page for my resume. 

I started this website in the summer of 1996; while searching for information on G6PD deficiency on the internet (for an English project I was doing at UCLA), my search came up empty.  So I decided to create  my own website using the report I had produced.  With the help of several individuals, I was able to learn HTML (Thanks Simon-Peter) and get started on the web using some borrowed web space from my friend's free school account (Thanks Nagui!).  Later on, I found a very gracious family in Italy (the maintainers of the Favism Homepage) who have hosted my website for free since my friend's account had expired.  This website has proven to be a valuable resource to not only myself, but to others as well who were searching for more information on this prevalent condition.  

If it is not clear yet, I, too, have G6PD deficiency and was diagnosed at the age of two; I had to have a blood transfusion following a hemolytic reaction after ingesting fava beans.  When my parents and I moved to America in 1981, it took us a while before we found a doctor who knew anything about G6PD deficiency.  Finally we settled with a pediatrician who gave us a list of medications that I was to avoid.  At the bottom of this list was written, "this is not an all inclusive list".  Of course this made me very uneasy, and I was glad to have had the opportunity in my English class to research this topic further and alleviate some of my own concerns regarding this condition.  Through this website, I was also able to share my experiences with others and have gained much comfort in knowing that I was not the only one experiencing anxiety over my condition, and frustration that I wasn't getting the information I needed.

Despite its prevalence, few health professionals are able to sufficiently educate their patients about G6PD deficiency.  The extent of their instruction comes from outdated pamphlets with lists of medications that are only "partial".  With this website, I wanted to make sure that I compiled all the drugs listed in the literature that cause hemolysis in G6PD deficient individuals. 

I have lived a farely normal life because I have been able to avoid all the contra-indicated medications.  I always tell any health professional I see about my condition and have always given them that list, which has proven vital to my survival.   Health professionals are always happy to see that list and are always eager to photocopy it to have in my file.

I hope you find this website useful in your search for information on G6PD deficiency.   If there is something you would like to see on this website, please Email me.

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Last Revised June 28, 1999