SEVERE NEONATAL HYPERBILIRUBINEMIA - A POTENTIAL COMPLICATION OF GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE DEFICIENCY

G-6-PD deficiency is frequently associated with neonatal hyperbilirubi nemia, which may be severe enough to cause kernicterus and death. Beca use of its association with acute trigger-induced hemolytic crises, G- 6-PD deficiency-associated neonatal hyperbilirubinemia has been labell ed as hemolytic in origin. In this article, the authors summarize rece nt evidence demonstrating that hemolysis cannot in and of itself be re sponsible for jaundice and that decreased bilirubin elimination plays a major role in its pathogenesis.