Haptoglobin, hemopexin, hemoglobin and hematocrit in newborns with erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Hemolysis was studied in 40 G-6-PD-deficient newborn infants, half of whom had bilirubin blood levels within the normal range whereas the others, who were hyperbilirubinemic, underwent exchange transfusion. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, hemopexin and haptoglobin showed no or little differences between either of the two groups and the controls. The findings confirm the authors' assumption expressed elsewhere that this form of hyperbilirubinemia is not hemolytic in nature.

Phototherapy for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in mature newborn infants with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency

Phototherapy was employed in treatment of newborn infants with erythrocyte G-6-PD deficiency whose serum bilirubin concentrations exceeded 10 mg/100 ml on the second or third day of life. Exchange transfusions were required for two of the 12 treated babies and for six of the 12 control infants. It is noteworthy that exposure to light did not affect the erythrocyte GSH content nor did it increase hemolysis.