Hyperbilirubinemia in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient male newborns in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

To study the clinical and laboratory characteristics of hyperbilirubinemia in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD]-deficient male newborns from Al-Ahsa area [Ahsais]. The medical records of inborn male infants at King Abdulaziz Hospital [KAH] in Al-Ahsa area, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 2008 through April 2009 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were healthy non-polycythemic G6PD-deficient Ahsa males born at >/= 37 weeks gestation, weighing >/= 2.5 kg, with no other cause of hyperbilirubinemia, and were sampled for a total serum bilirubin [TSB] within the first 48 hours of life. Hyperbilirubinemics were compared with non-hyperbilirubinemic newborns. Among the 93 G6PD-deficient newborns that met the inclusion criteria, 67 were hyperbilirubinemic and required phototherapy, and 13 of them required rephototherapy. Phototherapy was started at 11 +/- 4 [mean +/- SD] hours of life, and for a total duration of 42 +/- 28 hours. Hyperbilirubinemics had statistically significant higher levels of both hematocrit [53 +/- 6 versus 49 +/- 8%, p=0.02] and hemoglobin [176 +/- 18 versus 166 +/- 21 g/ L, p=0.04], and lower reticulocyte percentage [4.3 +/- 0.7 versus 5.2 +/- 1.0%, p=0.02], when compared to non-hyperbilirubinemic newborns. Hyperbilirubinemia in G6PD-deficient Ahsai male newborns was characterized by higher levels of both hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, and lower reticulocyte percentage compared to their non-hyperbilirubinemic counterpart. This hyperbilirubinemia required early phototherapy and re-phototherapy. Appropriate follow up should be made available to those high-risk newborns. Further research is needed to understand the exact mechanism of hyperbilirubinemia in G6PD-deficient newborns