The Incidence of Glucose‐6‐phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in a Population of Greek, Italian and Yugoslav Origin in Australia

Cord blood from 2,220 male babies of Greek, Italian and Yugoslav origin, born consecutively over a four-year period at The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, were screened by enzyme electrophoresis for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. The group comprised 1,220 babies of Greek, 600 of Italian and 400 of Yugoslav origin. G6PD deficiency occurred most commonly in the group of Greek babies, and 4-6% of these babies were deficient, while G6PD deficiency was detected in 1-2% of Italian and 0-3% of Yugoslav babies. These percentages are similar to those reported in Greece, Italy and Yugoslavia, and give some indication of the incidence of G6PD deficiency in people of Mediterranean origin in Australia.