The Clinical Picture of Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Early Infancy

Cases of severe neonatal jaundice not due to incompatibility or prematurity but associated with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6PD) deficiency were described independently by workers in Italy (Panizon, 1959; Panizon and Meo, 1959; Panizon, 1960a, b; Segni, 1959) Singapore (Smith and Vella, 1960) and Greece (Doxiadis and Valaes, 1960; Doxiadis, Fessas, and Valaes, 1960; Valaes, Fessas, and Doxiadis, 1961). In a systematic study of a large group of infants with severe neonatal jaundice not due to incompatibility we presented conclusive evidence that there was an aetiological relation between G-6-PD deficiency and haemolysis leading to severe neonatal jaundice (Doxiadis, Fessas, Valaes, and Mastrokalos, 1961).