Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase levels in babies delivered at the University of Ilorin teaching hospital.

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, an X-linked recessive disorder, is the most common enzymopathy producing disease in humans.It is known to cause severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Aims and Objectives: To determine G6PD levels in babies delivered at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital with a view to determining the prevalence of G6PDdeficiency. Methods: Samples of cord blood were collected at delivery, from 933 babies who met set criteria. Blood was assayed for G6PD levels using a quantitative in vitro test (RANDOX©). Results: A total of 348 (37.3%) of the 933 tested subjects had G6PD deficiency with enzyme activity of ≤ 2.8U/gHb. Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase levels in female babies with normal enzyme levels were significantly higher than in male babies with normal enzyme levels (5.72 ± 2.45 U/gHb versus 4.99 ± 2.3 U/gHb, p = 0.002). Enzyme levels in babies with G6PD deficiency was comparable in both males and females (2.05 ± 0.60 u/gHb in females and 2.1 ± 0.66 U/gHb in males, p = 0.66). The prevalence of G6PD deficiency was comparable among males and females (p = 0.81 Χ²= 0.06, RR = 1.02 , CI = 0.9 0 < R R < 1.15 , OR=1.04). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of G6PD deficiency in babies delivered at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, and the enzyme deficiency appears to occur equally among the sexes.