J Paediatr Child Health 2013 May;49(5):399-402

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia: Hacettepe experıence.

Celik HT, Günbey C, Unal S, Gümrük F, Yurdakök M.
Section of Neonatology, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

AIM:

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in newborn infants with neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and to compare the clinical features of G6PD-deficient and G6PD-normal newborn infants.

METHODS:

A total of 4906 term and preterm neonates with indirect hyperbilirubinaemia were retrospectively evaluated according to demographic, neonatal features, bilirubin levels, erythrocyte G6PD levels, other risk factors and treatments.

RESULTS:

Among 4906 newborn infants with indirect hyperbilirubinaemia, 55 (1.12%) neonates were G6PD-deficient. In our study, no statistically significant difference was detected between G6PD-deficient and G6PD-normal infants in relation to the time of onset of jaundice, bilirubin levels and duration of phototherapy. However, the incidence of exchange transfusion in G6PD-deficient infants was 16.4% while it was only 3.3% in G6PD normal infants (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

Testing for G6PD must be ordered to all newborns who are receiving phototherapy and especially to those who are coming from the high incident geographical regions and less responsive to phototherapy.

© 2013 The Authors. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health © 2013 Paediatrics and Child Health Division (Royal Australasian College of Physicians).