title: Poor correlation between hemolysis and jaundice in glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient babies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of hemolysis in the pathophysiology of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) in patients with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency has been questioned recently. The aim of the present study was to determine the contribution of hemolysis to the pathophysiology of jaundice in Malay neonates with G6PD deficiency and NNJ.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four groups of babies were included in the study: (i) G6PD deficient with NNJ; (ii) G6PD deficient without NNJ; (iii) G6PD normal with NNJ; and (iv) normal controls. Babies with other known causes of jaundice were excluded from the study. All subjects underwent the following investigations on day 3-5 after birth: hemoglobin level (Hb), serum bilirubin level, carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb) concentration, reticulocyte count and full blood picture. The results of the investigations were compared between the groups using SPSS version 11.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Babies with G6PD and jaundice had a similar percentage of CO-Hb to babies with G6PD without NNJ or babies with normal G6PD and NNJ (1.76 +/- 0.40% vs 1.66 +/- 0.31% and 1.67 +/- 0.28%, respectively; P: 0.23 and 0.41, respectively). Total Hb levels and reticulocyte counts were not significantly different between the groups. The blood film showed more (even though not reaching significance) hemolysis in the G6PD patients but results of the blood film were very similar for G6PD patients with and those without NNJ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemolysis is not a main determinant of neonatal jaundice in G6PD-deficient babies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Salamatu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jalloh
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Rostenberghe
authors.forename: Narazah M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Yusoff
authors.forename: Selamah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghazali
authors.forename: Nik Zainal
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Nik Ismail
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Nor Akmal
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Wahab
authors.forename: Hisahide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishio
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin; D001663:Bilirubin