Author/Authors :
Cherepnalkovski, Anet Papazovska University Pediatric Clinic - Medical Faculty - University “St. Cyril and Methodius” Skopje, Republic of Macedona , Marusic, Eugenija University Hospital Split and School of Medicine - University of Split, Croatia , Piperkova, Katica University Pediatric Clinic - Medical Faculty - University “St. Cyril and Methodius” Skopje, Republic of Macedona , Lozic, Bernarda University Hospital Split and School of Medicine - University of Split, Croatia , Skelin, Ana University Hospital Split and School of Medicine - University of Split, Croatia , Gruev, Todor University Clinic of Clinical Biochemistry - Medical Faculty, University “St. Cyril and Methodius”- Skopje, Republic of Macedonia , Krzelj, Vjekoslav University Hospital Split and School of Medicine - University of Split, Croatia
Abstract :
Background: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a common clinical manifestation of the inherited glucose-
6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to
investigate the influence of the inherited G6PD deficiency on the appearance of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia
in southern Croatia. Methods: The fluorescent spot test (FST) was used in a retrospective
study to screen blood samples of 513 male children who had neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, of unknown
cause, higher than 240 μmol/L. Fluorescence readings were performed at the beginning and at the fifth
and tenth minute of incubation and were classified into three groups: bright fluorescence (BF), weak
fluorescence (WF) and no fluorescence (NF). Normal samples show bright fluorescence. All NF and
WF samples at the fifth minute were quantitatively measured using the spectrophotometric method.
Results: Bright fluorescence was present in 461 patients (89.9%) at the fifth minute. The remaining
52 (10.1%) were quantitatively estimated using the spectrophotometric method. G6PD deficiency was
observed in 38 patients (7.4%). Conclusions: Prevalence rate of G6PD deficiency among male newborns
with hyperbilirubinemia in southern Croatia is significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared with the previously
reported prevalence rate among male in general population of southern Croatia (0.75%). We recommend
FST to be performed in hyperbilirubinemic newborns in southern Croatia.
Keywords :
G6PD deficiency , neonatal hyperbilirubinemia , fluorescent spot test , southern Croatia
