An unusual distribution of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency of south Indian newborn population
Ramadevi, R.; Savithri, H.S.; Devi, A.R.; Bittles, A.H.; Rao, N.A.
Indian Journal of Biochemistry and Biophysics 31(4): 358-360
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1208 PMID: 8002021 Document Number: 423093
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is seen at a higher frequency in many national and ethnic groups in areas of current or former malaria endemicity. A screening programme undertaken to evaluate the gene frequencies for this deficiency in the highly inbred South Indian population of Karnataka revealed that of the 5140 neonates screened, 7.8% were G6PD deficient with no correlation between the reported level of inbreeding and enzyme deficiency. An interesting finding was the equal number of male (198) and female (207) individuals, with G6PD activity of less than 3 IU. The possible implications of this finding with regard to the expression of G6PD gene is discussed.