Newborn Screening Test Flashcards
What is ‘screening’?
Screening is a process of identifying apparently healthy people who may be at increased risk of a disease or condition. They can then be offered information, further tests and/or treatment to reduce their risk and/or complications.
What is Wilson and Jungner Criteria? What are the 5 main criteria?
Essential screening criteria:
- Disease must be sufficiently common
- Natural history must be known; the progression of a disease process in an individual over time, in the absence of treatment
- Early therapeutic intervention beneficial
- Acceptable and affordable screening test
- Diagnostic confirmatory test
When are all babies tested?
At 5 days
What details are found on the neonatal screening card?
NHS number, name, address, DOB, GP, mother’s details
DOB, DOS, gestation, weight, transfusion status, hospital status, repeat status
What does neonatal screening test for?
9 conditions:
- Sickle cell disease and Hb disorders
- Cystic fibrosis
- Congenital hypothyroidism
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)
- Isovaleric acidaemia (IVA)
- Glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1)
- Homocystinuria (pyridoxine unresponsive) (HCU)
- Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD)
How many people does PKU affect? What type of inheritance is it?
1:10,000 Caucasian births
Inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern
What is PKU? What is it caused by?
An inborn error of metabolism that results in decreased metabolism of phenylalanine, causing its build up.
Caused by a defect in the PAH gene
What can PKU result in?
Untreated, PKU can lead to intellectual disability, seizures, behavioural problems, and mental disorders. It may also result in a musty smell and lighter skin.
What is the prognosis of PKU?
Excellent if treated from birth
How can PKU be confirmed?
- Screening test
2. Confirm diagnosis with plasma phenylalanine measurements (no need to measure enzyme or DNA)
Case 1:
Female infant referred at 14 months to Community Paediatrics; parental concern with developmental delay
On examination:
- Sitting with support, not vocalising, or reaching out or picking up objects
- Not startled by noise
- Not recognising parents
- Parents reported 3 brief episodes of shaking and eye rolling
- No dysmorphism
- Normal pregnancy and birth in Algeria
- Parents first cousins
What is the prognosis?
Eventual IQ outcome correlates with blood Phe.
Pathophysiological determinant likely to be brain Phe.
- Uncertain, but unlikely to be very good
- Compliance has been good despite late start with diet
- Neurological damage not reversible
What is the treatment for PKU?
A low phenylalanine diet
Biopterin supplementation
Large neutral amino acids
What is the treatment for PKU?
A low phenylalanine diet
Biopterin supplementation (in the form sapropterin)
Large neutral amino acids supplementation (Val, Leu, Ileu)
What does a low phenylalanine diet involve?
A low-protein diet that completely avoids high-protein foods (such as meat, eggs and dairy products) and controls the intake of many other foods, such as potatoes and cereals.
People with PKU must also avoid food products that contain aspartame, as it’s converted into phenylalanine in the body.
How can a low phenylalanine diet lead to a tyrosine insufficiency?
High protein foods are also high in tyrosine and phenylalanine
What is the PAH gene needed for?
The PAH gene helps create phenylalanine hydroxylase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down phenylalanine.
What is the cofactor for phenylalanine hydroxylase?
Biopterin
How many people does congenital hypothyroidism affect?
1:1500 UK births
What is the prognosis for congenital hypothyroidism?
Severe developmental delay if untreated. Excellent prognosis if treated from birth
How is congenital hypothyroidism diagnosed?
Screening test: bloodspot TSH
Confirm diagnosis with plasma thyroid function tests
no need to measure enzyme or DNA
What is congenital hypothyroidism?
A disorder affecting the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland produces a hormone called thyroxine, which is needed for normal growth and development. If the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine, it causes hypothyroidism.
How is congenital hypothyroidism caused?
- A missing, poorly formed, or abnormally small thyroid gland.
- A genetic defect that affects thyroid hormone production.
- Too little iodine in the mother’s diet during pregnancy.
- Radioactive iodine or antithyroid treatment for thyroid cancer during pregnancy.
What is the treatment for congenital hypothyroidism?
Treatment with thyroxine: carefully monitored