Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: How it can cause hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice to newborns?
Background
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, or what is commonly called as G6PD, refers to the cytosolic enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway known as the metabolic pathway that supplied reducing energy to cells. Though most commonly occurred among males, the condition mainly affects the red blood cells of the individuals. Since the red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body, the defect in G6PD causes the red blood cells to break down prematurely leading to hemolysis or hemolytic anemia in adults and mild to severe jaundice and/or hyperbilirubinemia to newborns. Unfortunately, many people with this disorder never experience any signs or symptoms. Jaundice and hyperbilirubinemia usually come in pair. Hyperbilirubinemia refers to high levels of bilirubin or the yellowish bile pigment in the blood. As a byproduct of the natural breakdown of blood cells, the liver just recycle it back to the body causing the continuous build up of extra bilirubin giving the skin the yellowish color, a condition known as the jaundice.
Research Questions and Objectives
The research will specifically attempt to answer the following questions:
1) What are the causes of the G6PD deficiency? How does the lack of vitamins and minerals contribute to the disorder especially during pregnancy?
2) What are the actual symptoms or signs that the case of hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice is caused by G6PD? How was it diagnosed and treated?
3) What are the effects of G6PD deficiency to the newborns as they grown in their toddler years, adolescent and adulthood? How can it be detected and prevented?
4) What are the multiple risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice? How could it affect the functionality of vital organs of the newborns?
The overall aim of this research is to explore the effect of G6PD deficiency to pregnant women to hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice in newborns. In carrying-out the overall aim, the following objectives will be accomplished:
ü To assess and evaluate the causes of G6PD deficiency
ü To analyse the correlation between G6PD and hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice among newborns
ü To investigate the effects of G6PD, hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice to newborns onto their childhood, teenage years and adulthood
ü To scrutinize the multiple risk factors of hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice for newborns
Methodology
The research will employ exploratory research. Exploratory research will enable us to look at the problem in both descriptive and exploratory manner. Descriptive because the researcher will gather information about the present existing condition. The purpose of employing descriptive research is center on the initiative to describe the nature of the situation as it exists at the time of the study, and to explore the causes of the phenomena. Descriptive research also utilizes structured/formal observation in the study. Exploratory because it intends to explore and compare the relationship between G6PD deficiency and hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice and the underlying factors that contribute to all. Being exploratory, this research will involve literature review, interview of experts in the field and survey of respondents whom will be the parents of the newborns with particular emphasis on mothers.
This study will have three key steps. The first step is to conduct descriptive information regarding the causes of G6PD leading to the deficiency, and the diagnosis and treatment of such. The second step will deal with experts interview. The third step will center on a focus group interview of the mothers of the newborns diagnosed with hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice. This will also include mothers of newborns with the same condition experienced from 30, 20, 10 and 5 years ago. Afterwards, the results will be subjected to thorough analysis. The analysis will be based on the informations collated from the three steps presented.
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