Neonatal jaundice in glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase-deficient infants

Out of 786 Greek male neonates randomly selected 23 showed G.-6-P.D. deficiency, an incidence of 2.92%. Only one of the 21 deficient babies who had no other cause for neonatal jaundice developed severe degrees of hyperbilirubinaemia. in contrast, among 43 male siblings of index cases—that is, infants with G.-6-P.D. deficiency and severe neonatal jaundice—there were 11 cases of severe hyperbilirubinaemia. The accumulation of the cases of neonatal jaundice in certain G.-6-P.D.-deficient families is discussed. The suggestion is made that the additional factors necessary for the development of severe neonatal jaundice in the G.-6-P.D.-deficient babies are genetically determined. © 1962, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved