الخلاصة

Background: Neonatal jaundice (NJ) is a significant disease among neonates in Najaf province. It manifests 19% of the total deliveries and 50% of the inpatients, and affects about 60% of term and 80% of preterm neonates during the first week of life. UGT1A1 is a cause of concern in NJ, because it is the most important underlying cause of unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: A cohort of 85neonate sorted into three groups according to the TSB level. Group 1 (TSB<5mg/dl), group 2 (TSB 5-15 mg/dl) and group 3 (TSB <15mg/l). UGT1A1expression and TSB level was assessed for both males and females in each group. Results & Discussion: Results showed high inverse correlation between UGT1A1expression and the ratio of males (r= -0.99, P<0.01), while females ratio expressed high direct correlation with UGT1A1 expression level with correlation coefficient of (r=0.99, P<0.01). This might due to physiological maturity differences of liver between both sexes, and the plasma growth hormone (GH) pulses frequencies (released by the pituitary gland) which affects the expression of liver enzymes. It's found that GH pulses are higher in females than in males. Conclusion: concluding that mean UGT1A1 expression level in females is more than that in the males during neonatal period therefore females are less vulnerable to NJ than males. Aim: The aim of this study is to qualify the UGT1A1 gene expression in both males and females therefore determining health and health care requirements. Keywords: Rule of gender in hyperbilirubinemia, Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal jaundice, UGT1A1 gene expression.