title: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) levels in jaundiced neonates in Calabar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) is an enzyme in the first step of the hexose-monophosphate shunt required for the generation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Red blood cells of neonates with deficient G-6-PD are potentially susceptible to acute severe haemolysis and may result in haemolytic jaundice. This study was to determine the association between neonatal jaundice and G-6-PD activity and the degree of deficiency of this enzyme among the affected neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  G-6-PD levels in jaundiced neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital were assayed between May 2000 and April 2001 using Biotic (London) diagnostic assay kit method. Data was analyzed using SPSS (base 705) data Editor (Microsoft Windows 95).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 102 jaundiced neonates between ages 1 and 10 days were studied. Out of the 102 jaundiced neonates, 39 (38.2%) were G-6-PD deficient with G-6-PD concentration of 48.89 +/- 72 mU/10(12) erythrocyte compared to 129.51 +/- 0.92 mU/10(12) erythrocyte in the remaining 63 subjects. The prevalence rate of G-6-PD deficiency among jaundiced neonates was 38% which is significantly high (p < 0.05) considering the study sample size. There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in G-6-PD level in the males and females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  G-6-PD activity is low in a number of jaundiced patients. Routine assay of G-6-PD in jaundiced patients is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Uko
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Agwunobi
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Udoh
mesh_terms: D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D005953:Glycogen Storage Disease Type I / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase