Effect of phenobarbital treatment on erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in human newborns

The effect of phenobarbital (PB) treatment on erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) levels was studied in normal and G-6-PD-deficient human newborns. An increase of erythrocyte G-6-PD levels was observed in normal G-6-PD patients, while increase in the enzymatic activity was not observed in G-6-PD-deficient neonates.