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The need for neonatal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screening: a global perspective

Journal of Perinatology volume 29, pages S46–S52 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency is an important cause of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and is overrepresented, even in countries with a low overall incidence of the enzyme deficiency, in the etiology of kernicterus. Neonatal screening for G-6-PD deficiency before discharge from the birth hospitalization should be instrumental in increasing parental and medical caretaker awareness of the high-risk nature of an infant, thereby effecting earlier referral of hyperbilirubinemic neonates for medical evaluation and treatment. The need for global screening, timing of screening, and the pros and cons of biochemical versus molecular DNA screening were discussed at the Newborn Jaundice and Kernicterus Meeting in Siena. The participants agreed that there was a need to expand neonatal G-6-PD screening globally and that screening results should be obtained before the infants’ discharge from birth hospitalization.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    M Kaplan & C Hammerman

  2. Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

    M Kaplan

  3. Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel

    C Hammerman

Authors
  1. M Kaplan
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  2. C Hammerman
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Correspondence to M Kaplan.

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The authors have declared no financial interests.

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Kaplan, M., Hammerman, C. The need for neonatal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screening: a global perspective. J Perinatol 29 (Suppl 1), S46–S52 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.216

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