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  • Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation
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Perinatal/Neonatal Case Presentation

Bilateral cataracts associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 574–575 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) has an essential role in the defense against cellular oxidative injury. In neonates, the most common manifestation of G6PD deficiency is jaundice and hemolysis due to factors causing oxidative stress. Less known are the ocular associations described with G6PD deficiency, including cataracts. Oxidative injury is involved in the pathogenesis of almost all forms of cataracts, causing the lens proteins to undergo modifications, denaturation and form insoluble aggregates resulting in cataracts. Although cataracts in adult males have been reported in several studies, there are few reports of cataracts in infants with G6PD deficiency. We describe a preterm male neonate with G6PD deficiency who developed bilateral cataracts following an episode of neonatal sepsis and severe hemolysis necessitating an exchange blood transfusion.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    V Nair, S U Hasan, E Al Awad & K Yusuf

  2. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    K Romanchuk

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    A Mansoor

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  1. V Nair
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  2. S U Hasan
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  3. K Romanchuk
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  4. E Al Awad
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  5. A Mansoor
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  6. K Yusuf
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Correspondence to K Yusuf.

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Nair, V., Hasan, S., Romanchuk, K. et al. Bilateral cataracts associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. J Perinatol 33, 574–575 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.148

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.148

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