TITLE:
Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Icteric Newborns at the Essos-Yaoundé-Cameroon Hospital
AUTHORS:
Josué Simo Louokdom, Romaric Tuono De Manfouo, Prisca Yngrid Tekam Meupia, Maï-Pamela Tumchou Mekieje, Maryline Seuko Njopwouo, Pascal Dieudonné Chuisseu Djamen
KEYWORDS:
G6PD Deficiency, Neonatal Icterus, Hemolysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Blood Diseases,
Vol.13 No.1,
March
6,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is an enzymopathy
characterized by insufficient production of reduced glutathione (GSH), a
molecule known for its antioxidant role. This lack of GSH leads to a deficit in
the elimination of peroxide ions from the red blood cells, causing thereby
hemolytic accidents, which can be fatal if not properly managed. In neonates,
the clinical picture is most often that of neonatal jaundice. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the place of G6PD deficiency as a cause of
neonatal jaundice at Essos Hospital Centre. Methods: We conducted a prospective descriptive study over three months. Blood samples
taken from newborns aged 0 to 28 days were
analyzed in the medical analysis laboratory of the Essos Hospital Centre
in Yaoundé. We carried out a determination of the enzymatic activity of G6PD, a
blood count and the determination of the bilirubin level. The results obtained
were analysed using R statistical software version 4.1.1. Linear regression
analyses were used to assess correlations between the variables of interest. Results: Sixty-nine icteric neonates constituted our study population, with a total of
40 boys (58%) and 29 girls (42%) with a sex ratio of 1.37 in favour of boys.
The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in icteric children was 50.72%. The mean
hemoglobin was 15.3 ± 3.08 g/dL and the mean red blood cell count was 4.52 ± 1.01 × 106/mm3. The mean total bilirubin was 122 ± 48.3
mg/L with a maximum of 308 mg/L and the mean free bilirubin was 104 ± 46.6 mg/L
with a maximum of 292 mg/L. Furthermore, after linear regression analysis, we
obtained a positive and significant correlation between G6PD enzymatic activity
and hemoglobin level (r = 0.33; p ≤ 0.001), G6PD red blood cell level (r = 0.26;
p Conclusion: Neonatal
jaundice in G6PD-deficient children is a real public health problem and the
prevention of hemolysis in children requires an early diagnosis of the enzyme
disorder and good follow-up of the children.