Authors : N.E. Bini, D.E. Madgdaline and G.O. Avwioro
Abstract: The impact of malaria and its influence on erythrocytes with regard to Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), Haemoglobin (Hb) and consequent production of bilirubin were investigated in 150 children consisting of 50 apparently healthy children who were used as controls, 50 cases of malaria with jaundice and 50 cases of malaria without jaundice. Plasmodium falciparum was the commonest infection encountered. About 33 (66%) males and 17 (34%) females had malaria with jaundice, 34 (68%) males and 16 (32%) females had malaria without jaundice while 28 (56%) males and 22 (44%) females were used as control. Their blood samples were analyzed for G-6-PD activity, levels of haemoglobin, total bilirubin and percentage parasitaemia. Average G-6PD activity of 4.7±0.9 U g-1 Hb in malaria with jaundice was significantly lower than values obtained for malaria patients without jaundice 7.6±1.7 U g-1 Hb and both were significantly lower than the controls with the enzyme activity of 12.6±1.0 U g-1 Hb (p<0.05). A statistically significant correlation was found between G-6-PD activity and haemoglobin in malaria infested subjects but severe malaria infection was responsible for most haemolysis of the red cells. G-6-PD activity was found to be decreasing with severity of malaria infection with subsequent increase in total bilirubin values. Reduced values of G-6-PD activity increased red cell fragility with consequent lysis of the red blood cells.
N.E. Bini, D.E. Madgdaline and G.O. Avwioro, 2012. Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Activity in Jaundiced and Non-Jaundiced Childern with Malaria Parasitaemia in Delta State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 6: 138-141.