Study of Glucose - 6 - Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency In Neonatal Jaundice

The enzyme, Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), deficiency leads to impaired production of reduced glutathione and predisposes the red cells to damage by oxidative metabolites, causing hemolysis. Deficient neonates may manifest clinically as hyperbilirubinemia or even kernicterus. Screening for G6PD deficiency and recognition of prevalence of the enzyme deficiency in individual communities have got definite place in the investigation of cases with neonatal jaundice. To determine the frequency and effect of G6PD deficiency the study was conducted in the Special Care Neonatal Unit of Bankura Sammilani Medical College during the period from November 2010 to December 2011. All term and preterm babies up to seventh day of age admitted with clinically evident jaundice were taken for study. Of the total 176 neonates, 24 neonates( 13.63%) had G6PD deficiency, Most are males, Jaundice developed after 24 hrs of life,.The mean age of jaundice was 70.54 hrs. of age. Peak serum bilirubin was < 20 mg/dl in 33.33%, 20.1 to 25 mg/dl in 29.16%, and > 30 mg/dl in 16.66% of cases. with All babies G6PD deficiency was administered phototherapy in the study to avoid high rise in the peak bilirubin level. Out of them13(54.17%n=24) responded to phototherapy alone & 11 (45.83%) neonates in this group required double volume exchange transfusion.