title: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity levels in white newborn infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define normal levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in a population of North American white newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 2 white newborn populations, ≥35 weeks of gestation. In the retrospective study, G6PD activity was measured (on clinical indication) in 242 newborns aged ≤7 days. In the prospective study, we measured G6PD activity in umbilical cord blood samples in 347 newborns and daily transcutaneous bilirubin levels in these infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean G6PD activity level was 12.3 ± 3.1 units per gram hemoglobin (U/gHb) in the retrospective population and 13.3 ± 1.8 U/gHb in the prospective population, and there was no difference between males and females. The distribution of values suggested that infants with activity levels <7 U/gHb should be considered deficient and 8 infants (6 males and 2 females), all in the retrospective population had such levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As in other ethnic populations, the mean G6PD activity in white newborn infants is substantially greater than that of white adults. The lower limits of normal are also similar to those of other newborn ethnic groups and of adults. The diagnosis of G6PD deficiency should be considered in any white infant whose G6PD activity is <7 U/gHb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and Beaumont Children's Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Alissa N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and Beaumont Children's Hospital, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kring
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI.
authors.forename: Yvonne F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Posey
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, and Beaumont Children's Hospital, Royal Oak, MI. Electronic address: jmaisels@beaumont.edu.
authors.forename: M Jeffrey
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maisels
mesh_terms: D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood*; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D001663:Bilirubin