Association of G6PD deficiency and neonatal sepsis Relationship of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and neonatal sepsis: A single center investigation about the major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a serious disease with distinct clinical and laboratory findings. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is known as the most common erythrocyte human enzyme deficiency. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between G6PD deficiency and neonatal sepsis since it is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.Material and methods: A cross-sectional case control study was designed and performed on 50 neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and diagnosed with impression of sepsis and 50 control normal neonates. G6PD enzyme activity has been assessed in the case and control groups.Results: G6PD enzyme level assessment showed that 5 (5%) subjects in the case group vs. 1 (1%) of the control group were severely deficient and 9 (9%) of cases vs. 1 (1%) of the controls were moderately deficient; the enzyme level differences were statistically significant.Conclusion: Our study showed higher incidence of G6PD deficiency in neonates who had been admitted due to sepsis. We suggest quantitatively G6PD level assessment instead of the routine qualitative methods in prevalent G6PD deficiency area; it is also recommended that the neonates with deficiency should be under close supervision during the first month of life, especially those with other risks of neonatal sepsis, such as prematurity or low birth weight.

کلیدواژه ها:

G6PD ، neonatal sepsis ، deficiency ، morbidity ، mortality