Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common hereditary disorder in humans. Through a population study for G6PD deficiency using a cord blood quantitative G6PD assay in Bangkok, Thailand, we found that the prevalence of G6PD deficiency is 11.1% in Thai male (N=350) and 5.8% in female (N=172) cord blood samples. Among the neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, the prevalence of G6PD deficiency is 22.1% in males (N=140) and 10.1% in females (N=89). We developed a PCR-restriction enzyme-based method to identify G6PD Viangchan (871G>A), and searched for this and 9 other mutations in DNA from G6PD deficient blood samples. G6PD Viangchan (871G>A) was the most common mutation identified (54%), followed by G6PD Canton (1376G>T; 10%), G6PD Mahidol (487G>A; 8%), G6PD Kaiping (1388G>A; 5%), G6PD Union (1360C>T; 2.6%) and "Chinese-5" (1024C>T; 2.6%). Among 20 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, G6PD Viangchan was also most frequently identified (60%), followed by G6PD Canton (10%), G6PD Mahidol, G6PD Union, and G6PD Kaiping (5% each). G6PD Viangchan appears from this study to be the most common G6PD mutation in the Thai population, bringing into question previous reports that G6PD Mahidol is most prevalent. G6PD Viangchan, together with G6PD Mahidol and G6PD Canton, are responsible for over 70% of G6PD deficiency in this study of Thais. With the data from other Southeast Asian ethnic groups such as Laotians, G6PD Viangchan (871G>A) is probably the most common variant in nonChinese Southeast Asian population.

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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a ubiquitous organism that leads to a wide range of liver diseases which often result in chronic or fatal outcomes. It has been estimated that there are about 400 to 500 million HBV carriers in the world, and globally, each year more than a million deaths are attributed to the consequences of HBV infection.

We have assessed the protective efficacy of a recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine alone in infants of women who were positive for the surface antigen and the e antigen. The infants received a 10-micrograms dose of the vaccine within 12 hours of birth and additional doses 1, 2, and 12 months later. No significant adverse reactions to vaccination were observed and the vaccine was highly immunogenic. Only 2 (3.6%) of the 55 infants followed up to 13 months became chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus, as evidenced by the persistent presence of hepatitis B surface antigen in serum samples. Without immunoprophylaxis, 65% to 90% of such infants would become chronic carriers. Immunization with a recombinant vaccine without concomitant administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin, therefore, considerably decreased the incidence of the carrier state.

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