ABSTRACT
Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency is the most common human enzyme deficiency in the world, and a common cause of neonatal jaundice in Iraq. To study the burden of G6PD deficiency on the development of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates, and analyze some possible associated risk factors. A prospective study was conducted in the Neonatal Care Unit in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital in Medical City, Baghdad; from the 5th of August 2006 till 10th of March 2007. Hundred newborn babies with neonatal jaundice [clinically and biochemically] and another 100 newborns were not jaundiced [control group] were studied. A methemoglobin reduction test used to assay the activity of G6PD. In this study, 30 [30%] of neonates with jaundice had G6PD deficiency while only 8 [8%] had G6PD deficiency in nonjaundiced. Twenty four [80%] of the G6PD deficient were males and 6 [20%] were females. In both normal and G6PD deficient groups, reticulocyte counts were normal.. Glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency can lead to an increased risk of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with significant number of patients required exchange blood transfusion 12 [40%]. We recommend to do cord blood G6PD screening and early detection of the enzyme deficiency in high risk populations with high prevalence such as our community, in order take approproate measures to prevent the complications of hemolysis and future problems of neonatal jaundice due to G6PD deficiency