Prevalence Af Glucose Six Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in The Newborn of Arak City Hospitals, Iri, (2001-2002)

Glucose Six Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) catalyses the first step in pantose phosphate pathway to produce NADPH. NADPH plays an important role in oxidation and reduction of hemoglobine and reduces H202 level. However, in absence of G6PD, NADPH also will be decreased, as a result of severe defect in function of red blood cells occurred. So we decided to survey is prevalence in our region by studying on the umbilical cord blood.

Our study were descriptive-analytic and samples were gathered by Simple Sampling Method. EDTA was used as an anticoagulant. Enzyme activity was measured with the method of Fluorescent spot Test (FST). Chi-Square and logestic regression were used to analyses the data and P<0.05 was considered as significant.

From a total of 2160 neonates, 1103 case (51.1%) were male and 1057 case (48.9%) were female. 3.5% of the males and 0.8% of females and over all 2.2% of the neonates were G6PD deficient. Due to chi-square analyses and logestic regression, positive RH increases the risk by 1.6 as compare to negative RH. However we could not find any significant relationship between blood groups and prevalence of G6PD.

As our results showed, the G6PD deficiency is more common in male than female. Relation between positive RH and G6PD deficiency were significantly increased. Prevalence of G6PD in Arak City showed 2.2% which is lower than that of north our country (8.7%) as well as lower than other part of the world (10-14.9%). We suggest using the screening umbilical cord blood test on the neonates to diagnose the G6PD deficiency and to promote the primary health care quality and public as well as reduction the social and economical problem of the society.