Stacey Quesada, Lauren Barringer, Marci K Sontag, Yvonne Kellar-Guenther
{"title":"A Qualitative Study on Engaged Families' Experiences with Long-Term Follow-Up Care in the Colorado/Wyoming Newborn Screening System.","authors":"Stacey Quesada, Lauren Barringer, Marci K Sontag, Yvonne Kellar-Guenther","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030061","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding whether the long-term follow-up (LTFU) system is working for families is critical to measuring the success of newborn screening (NBS) and understanding why some families are lost to follow-up. Caregivers were recruited from six pediatric specialty care clinics. Data were gathered from caregivers via five focus groups and one individual interview (<i>n</i> = 24). Caregiver participants represented a wide range of children's ages and conditions identified through NBS. While this is not the first study to gather caregivers' input on LTFU, it provides a wide breadth of perspectives (e.g., metabolic, endocrine, hemoglobinopathy, etc.). When asked about goals for their children, caregivers identified health-related goals (i.e., children able to care for themselves, not hindered by diagnosis) and non-health related goals (i.e., defining themselves outside of disease, participating in sports, making friends). In describing the LTFU care they want and need for their child and the key factors that influence access and engagement, caregivers identified three themes: communication and relationships with providers; care team roles and factors; and care access and utilization factors. The themes identified are not disjointed; they are intertwined and illustrate the lived experiences of a sample of families engaged in LTFU care.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142287121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stuart J Moat, James R Bonham, Christine Cavanagh, Margaret Birch, Caroline Griffith, Lynette Shakespeare, Clare Le Masurier, Claire Manfredonia, Beverly Hird, Philippa Goddard, Sarah Smith, Laura Wainwright, Rachel S Carling, Jennifer Cundick, Fiona Jenkinson, Catherine Collingwood, Nick Flynn, Nazia Taj, Mehdi Mirzazadeh, Tejswurree Ramgoolam, Liz Robinson, Amy Headley, Tessa Morgan, David Elliman, Lesley Tetlow
{"title":"Consistency in the Assessment of Dried Blood Spot Specimen Size and Quality in U.K. Newborn Screening Laboratories.","authors":"Stuart J Moat, James R Bonham, Christine Cavanagh, Margaret Birch, Caroline Griffith, Lynette Shakespeare, Clare Le Masurier, Claire Manfredonia, Beverly Hird, Philippa Goddard, Sarah Smith, Laura Wainwright, Rachel S Carling, Jennifer Cundick, Fiona Jenkinson, Catherine Collingwood, Nick Flynn, Nazia Taj, Mehdi Mirzazadeh, Tejswurree Ramgoolam, Liz Robinson, Amy Headley, Tessa Morgan, David Elliman, Lesley Tetlow","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030060","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2015, U.K. newborn screening (NBS) laboratory guidelines were introduced to standardize dried blood spot (DBS) specimen quality acceptance and specify a minimum acceptable DBS diameter of ≥7 mm. The UK 'acceptable' avoidable repeat rate (AVRR) is ≤2%. To assess inter-laboratory variability in specimen acceptance/rejection, two sets of colored scanned images (<i>n</i> = 40/set) of both good and poor-quality DBS specimens were distributed to all 16 U.K. NBS laboratories for evaluation as part of an external quality assurance (EQA) assessment. The mean (range) number of specimens rejected in the first EQA distribution was 7 (1-16) and in the second EQA distribution was 7 (0-16), demonstrating that adherence to the 2015 guidelines was highly variable. A new minimum standard for DBS size of ≥8 mm (to enable a minimum of six sub-punches from two DBS) was discussed. NBS laboratories undertook a prospective audit and demonstrated that using ≥8 mm as the minimum acceptable DBS diameter would increase the AVRR from 2.1% (range 0.55% to 5.5%) to 7.8% (range 0.55% to 22.7%). A significant inverse association between the number of specimens rejected in the DBS EQA distributions and the predicted AVVR (using ≥8 mm minimum standard) was observed (r = -0.734, <i>p</i> = 0.003). Before implementing more stringent standards, the impact of a standard operating procedure (SOP) designed to enable a standardized approach of visual assessment and using the existing ≥7 mm diameter (to enable a minimum of four sub-punches from two DBS) as the minimum standard was assessed in a retrospective audit. Implementation of the SOP and using the ≥7 mm DBS diameter would increase the AVRR from 2.3% (range 0.63% to 5.3%) to 6.5% (range 4.3% to 20.9%). The results demonstrate that there is inconsistency in applying the acceptance/rejection criteria, and that a low AVVR is not an indication of good-quality specimens being received into laboratories. Further work is underway to introduce and maintain standards without increasing the AVRR to unacceptable levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417764/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142287124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Barbra Charina V Cavan, Leniza G de Castro-Hamoy, Conchita G Abarquez, Ebner Bon G Maceda, Maria Melanie Liberty B Alcausin
{"title":"Clinical, Biochemical, and Molecular Characteristics of Filipino Patients with Tyrosinemia Type 1.","authors":"Barbra Charina V Cavan, Leniza G de Castro-Hamoy, Conchita G Abarquez, Ebner Bon G Maceda, Maria Melanie Liberty B Alcausin","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030059","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT1), or hepatorenal tyrosinemia, is an amino acid disorder which may cause hepatic failure as well as renal and neurologic comorbidities. Early detection of this disorder is possible with newborn screening (NBS). The objective of this study is to describe the clinical, biochemical, and molecular characteristics of Filipino patients diagnosed with HT1 through the expansion of the Philippine NBS program in 2014. There were a total of 16 patients with confirmed HT1 from then until September 2022. Clinical and biochemical data during confirmation and initial evaluation, as well as molecular data, were obtained from the patients' medical records. The cohort included children between the ages of 18 and 54 months at the time of data collection. The mean age at treatment initiation was 26.8 days. The mean succinylacetone level from dried blood spot sampling using tandem mass spectrometry (MS) was 11.1 µmol/L. Biochemical confirmatory tests via plasma amino acid analysis showed mean levels of tyrosine, phenylalanine, and methionine of 506.1 µmol/L, 111.5 µmol/L, and 125.4 µmol/L, respectively. Upon urine organic acid (UOA) analysis, succinylacetone was detected in all except for one patient, who was managed prior to UOA analysis. The most common clinical characteristics were abnormal clotting times (62.5%), elevated alpha fetoprotein (37.5%), anemia (31.3%), and metabolic acidosis (31.3%). The most common genotype was homozygous c.122T>C p.Leu41Pro in 64.3% of patients. The allelic frequency of this pathogenic variant is 71.4%. The inclusion of HT1 in the Philippine NBS program allowed early diagnosis and management of HT1 patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142287123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Craig M Zaidman, Cameron D Crockett, Ethan Wedge, Grace Tabatabai, Natalie Goedeker
{"title":"Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Variations in Practice and Early Management of Infants with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the United States.","authors":"Craig M Zaidman, Cameron D Crockett, Ethan Wedge, Grace Tabatabai, Natalie Goedeker","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030058","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030058","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the United States (U.S.), newborn screening (NBS) for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is implemented by individual states. There is likely variation in the practice patterns of state NBS programs and among the providers caring for newborns with SMA. This is a prospective, descriptive, observational study that seeks to quantify and describe practice patterns and heterogeneities in state NBS programs and provider practices in the U.S. We surveyed U.S. state NBS programs and care providers of newborns with SMA. Thirty states and 41 practitioners responded. NBS program practices vary by state. Most (74%) state programs provide results to both primary care and specialist providers and also defer confirmatory SMA testing to those providers. Two states had relatively high rates of false-positive or inclusive results. The total birth prevalence of SMA was 1:13,862. Most providers were in tertiary care centers (90%) and were child neurologists (81%) and/or had fellowship training in Neuromuscular Medicine or Electromyography (76%). All providers see new referrals in less than a week, but many do not initiate treatment until >3 weeks of age (39%), with most commonly reported delays related to insurance processes. Most (81%) prefer onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi (OA) as the treatment of choice, mainly due to perceived efficacy and the route/frequency of administration. NBS practice patterns in the U.S. vary by state but overall yielded the predicted birth prevalence of positive results. Providers evaluate these newborns urgently, but many do not initiate therapy until after 3 weeks of age. Treatment delays are mainly related to insurance processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11348092/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142072825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Our Journey from Individual Efforts to Nationwide Support: Implementing Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Serbia.","authors":"Miloš Brkušanin, Nemanja Garai, Jelena Karanović, Tamara Šljivančanin Jakovljević, Aleksandra Dimitrijević, Kristina Jovanović, Tanja Lazić Mitrović, Željko Miković, Goran Brajušković, Dimitrije Mihailo Nikolić, Dušanka Savić-Pavićević","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030057","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Innovative treatments for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) yield the utmost advantages only within the presymptomatic phase, underlining the significance of newborn screening (NBS). We aimed to establish statewide NBS for SMA in Serbia. Our stepwise implementation process involved technical validation of a screening assay, collaboration with patient organizations and medical professionals, a feasibility study, and negotiation with public health representatives. Over 12,000 newborns were tested during the 17-month feasibility study, revealing two unrelated SMA infants and one older sibling. All three children received therapeutic interventions during the presymptomatic phase and have shown no signs of SMA. No false-negative results were found among the negative test results. As frontrunners in this field in Serbia, we established screening and diagnostic algorithms and follow-up protocols and raised awareness among stakeholders about the importance of early disease detection, leading to the incorporation of NBS for SMA into the national program on 15 September 2023. Since then, 54,393 newborns have been tested, identifying six SMA cases and enabling timely treatment. Our study demonstrates that effective collaborations between academia, non-profit organizations, and industry are crucial in bringing innovative healthcare initiatives to fruition, and highlights the potential of NBS to revolutionize healthcare outcomes for presymptomatic SMA infants and their families.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11348157/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142072826","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katy Cooper, Gamze Nalbant, Anthea Sutton, Sue Harnan, Praveen Thokala, Jim Chilcott, Alisdair McNeill, Alice Bessey
{"title":"Systematic Review of Presymptomatic Treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.","authors":"Katy Cooper, Gamze Nalbant, Anthea Sutton, Sue Harnan, Praveen Thokala, Jim Chilcott, Alisdair McNeill, Alice Bessey","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030056","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030056","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) causes the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. Treatments including nusinersen, risdiplam, and onasemnogene abeparvovec have been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms, with recent studies suggesting greater effectiveness when treatment is initiated in the presymptomatic stage. This systematic review synthesises findings from prospective studies of presymptomatic treatment for 5q SMA published up to December 2023. The review identified three single-arm interventional studies of presymptomatic treatment (NURTURE, RAINBOWFISH, and SPR1NT), six observational studies comparing presymptomatic or screened cohorts versus symptomatic cohorts, and twelve follow-up studies of screened cohorts only (i.e., babies identified via newborn screening for SMA). Babies with three <i>SMN2</i> copies met most motor milestones in the NURTURE study of nusinersen and in the SPR1NT study of onasemnogene abeparvovec. Babies with two <i>SMN2</i> copies in these two studies met most motor milestones but with some delays, and some required ventilatory or feeding support. The RAINBOWFISH study of risdiplam is ongoing. Naïve comparisons of presymptomatic treatment in SPR1NT, versus untreated or symptomatic treatment cohorts, suggested improved outcomes in patients treated presymptomatically. Comparative observational studies supported the finding that presymptomatic treatment, and early treatment following screening, may improve outcomes compared with treatment at the symptomatic stage. Further research should assess the long-term clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of presymptomatic treatment for SMA.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11348213/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142072744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M Christine Dorley, Elizabeth Bair, Patricia Ryland, Amanda D Ingram, Emily Reeves, Kara J Levinson, Ona O Adair, Jenny F Meredith, Susanne Crowe
{"title":"Continuity of Operations in Newborn Screening: Lessons Learned from Three Incidents.","authors":"M Christine Dorley, Elizabeth Bair, Patricia Ryland, Amanda D Ingram, Emily Reeves, Kara J Levinson, Ona O Adair, Jenny F Meredith, Susanne Crowe","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030055","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Three incidents that impacted two US newborn screening (NBS) programs highlight the importance of contingency planning for the continuity of operations (COOP). Other NBS programs may benefit from the experience of these state programs for their own contingency planning efforts. Through after-action reviews conducted post-incident, crucial elements for the successful management of an incident were identified. We detailed the strengths, weaknesses, improvements needed, and future actions that will assist in preparing for other incidents as lessons learned.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11348246/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142072824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristen N Wong, Melissa McIntyre, Sabina Cook, Kim Hart, Amelia Wilson, Sarah Moldt, Andreas Rohrwasser, Russell J Butterfield
{"title":"A Five-Year Review of Newborn Screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the State of Utah: Lessons Learned.","authors":"Kristen N Wong, Melissa McIntyre, Sabina Cook, Kim Hart, Amelia Wilson, Sarah Moldt, Andreas Rohrwasser, Russell J Butterfield","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030054","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030054","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by alpha motor neuron degeneration in the spinal cord anterior horn. Clinical symptoms manifest in the first weeks to months of life in the most severe cases, resulting in progressive symmetrical weakness and atrophy of the proximal voluntary muscles. Approximately 95% of SMA patients present with homozygous deletion of the <i>SMN1</i> gene. With multiple available therapies preventing symptom development and slowing disease progression, newborn screening for SMA is essential to identify at-risk individuals. From 2018 to 2023, a total of 239,844 infants were screened. 13 positive screens were confirmed to have SMA. An additional case was determined to be a false positive. We are not aware of any false-negative cases. All patients were seen promptly, with diagnosis confirmed within 1 week of the initial clinical visit. Patients were treated with nusinersen or onasemnogene abeparvovec. Treated patients with two copies of <i>SMN2</i> are meeting important developmental milestones inconsistent with the natural history of type 1 SMA. Patients with 3-4 copies of <i>SMN2</i> follow normal developmental timelines. Newborn screening is an effective tool for the early identification and treatment of patients with SMA. Presymptomatic treatment dramatically shifts the natural history of SMA, with most patients meeting appropriate developmental milestones. Patients with two copies of <i>SMN2</i> identified through newborn screening constitute a neurogenetic emergency. Due to the complexities of follow-up, a multidisciplinary team, including close communication with the newborn screening program, is required to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11270276/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141758592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Evelina Maines, Roberto Franceschi, Francesca Rivieri, Giovanni Piccoli, Björn Schulte, Jessica Hoffmann, Andrea Bordugo, Giulia Rodella, Francesca Teofoli, Monica Vincenzi, Massimo Soffiati, Marta Camilot
{"title":"Biochemical Pattern of Methylmalonyl-CoA Epimerase Deficiency Identified in Newborn Screening: A Case Report.","authors":"Evelina Maines, Roberto Franceschi, Francesca Rivieri, Giovanni Piccoli, Björn Schulte, Jessica Hoffmann, Andrea Bordugo, Giulia Rodella, Francesca Teofoli, Monica Vincenzi, Massimo Soffiati, Marta Camilot","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030053","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030053","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase enzyme (MCEE) is responsible for catalyzing the isomeric conversion between D- and L-methylmalonyl-CoA, an intermediate along the conversion of propionyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA. A dedicated test for MCEE deficiency is not included in the newborn screening (NBS) panels but it can be incidentally identified when investigating methylmalonic acidemia and propionic acidemia. Here, we report for the first time the biochemical description of a case detected by NBS. The NBS results showed increased levels of propionylcarnitine (C3) and 2-methylcitric acid (MCA), while methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (Hcy) were within the reference limits. Confirmatory analyses revealed altered levels of metabolites, including MCA and MMA, suggesting a block in the propionate degradation pathway. The analysis of methylmalonic pathway genes by next-generation sequencing (NGS) allowed the identification of the known homozygous nonsense variation c.139C>T (p.R47X) in exon 2 of the MCE gene. Conclusions: Elevated concentrations of C3 with a slight increase in MCA and normal MMA and Hcy during NBS should prompt the consideration of MCEE deficiency in differential diagnosis. Increased MMA levels may be negligible at NBS as they may reach relevant values beyond the first days of life and thus could be identified only in confirmatory analyses.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11270317/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141758593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nathalia Teixeira Palla Braga, Jáderson Mateus Vilela Antunes, Enrico Antônio Colosimo, Vera Maria Alves Dias, José Nélio Januário, Ivani Novato Silva
{"title":"Impact of Lowering TSH Cut-Off on Neonatal Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism in Minas Gerais, Brazil.","authors":"Nathalia Teixeira Palla Braga, Jáderson Mateus Vilela Antunes, Enrico Antônio Colosimo, Vera Maria Alves Dias, José Nélio Januário, Ivani Novato Silva","doi":"10.3390/ijns10030052","DOIUrl":"10.3390/ijns10030052","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A higher incidence of primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) has been related to increased sensitivity in neonatal screening tests. The benefit of treatment in mild cases remains a topic of debate. We evaluated the impact of reducing the blood-spot TSH cut-off (b-TSH) from 10 (Group 2) to 6 mIU/L (Group 1) in a public neonatal screening program. During the study period, 40% of 123 newborns with CH (<i>n</i> = 162,729; incidence = 1:1323) had b-TSH between 6 and 10 mIU/L. Group 1 patients had fewer clinical signs (<i>p</i> = 0.02), lower serum TSH (<i>p</i> < 0.01), and higher free T4 (<i>p</i> < 0.01) compared to those in Group 2 at diagnosis. Reducing the b-TSH cut-off from 10 to 6 mIU/L increased screening sensitivity, allowing a third of diagnoses, mainly mild cases, not being missed. However, when evaluating the performances of b-TSH cut-offs (6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 mIU/L), the lower values were associated with low positive predictive values (PPVs) and unacceptable increased recall rates (0.57%) for a public health care program. A proposed strategy is to adopt a higher b-TSH cut-off in the first sample and a lower one in the subsequent samples from the same child, which yields a greater number of diagnoses with an acceptable PPV.</p>","PeriodicalId":14159,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Neonatal Screening","volume":"10 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11270361/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141758597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}