title: Influence of the Inherited Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency on the Appearance of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in Southern Croatia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a common clinical manifestation of the inherited glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the inherited G6PD deficiency on the appearance of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in southern Croatia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fluorescent spot test (FST) was used in a retrospective study to screen blood samples of 513 male children who had neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, of unknown cause, higher than 240 μmol/L. Fluorescence readings were performed at the beginning and at the fifth and tenth minute of incubation and were classified into three groups bright fluorescence (BF), weak fluorescence (WF) and no fluorescence (NF). Normal samples show bright fluorescence. All NF and WF samples at the fifth minute were quantitatively measured using the spectrophotometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bright fluorescence was present in 461 patients (89.9%) at the fifth minute. The remaining 52 (10.1%) were quantitatively estimated using the spectrophotometric method. G6PD deficiency was observed in 38 patients (7.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence rate of G6PD deficiency among male newborns with hyperbilirubinemia in southern Croatia is significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared with the previously reported prevalence rate among male in general population of southern Croatia (0.75%). We recommend FST to be performed in hyperbilirubinemic newborns in southern Croatia.
authors.affiliation: University Pediatric Clinic, Medical Faculty, University "St. Cyril and Methodius", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Anet Papazovska
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Cherepnalkovski
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Split and School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Eugenija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marusic
authors.affiliation: University Pediatric Clinic, Medical Faculty, University "St. Cyril and Methodius", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Katica
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Piperkova
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Split and School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Bernarda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lozic
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Split and School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skelin
authors.affiliation: University Clinic of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, University "St. Cyril and Methodius", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Todor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gruev
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Split and School of Medicine, University of Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vjekoslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krzelj
keywords: G6PD deficiency; fluorescent spot test; neonatal hyperbilirubinemia; southern Croatia