Paediatrics and Pregnancy Flashcards
Newborn screening encompasses more than just screening.
Screening
Follow-up
Diagnostic testing
Management
Program evaluation and quality assurance
How to select tests for newborn screening?
Modified Wilson and Jungner criteria
- suitable test available
- recognisable “latent” phase
- evidence for benefit to infant from early detection and management
- availability of efficacious diagnostic and clinical management program
- cost effective - cost of screening and management of outcome more cost effective than not screening
What is a suitable/ideal test method for newborn screening?
- validated methods available for screening and diagnosis
- amenable to dried blood spot testing
- high throughput with low cost
- multiple analytes/secondary targets detected by test method
- multiplex platform - LCMS/MS, HPLC, bead-based immunocapture, microarray
Most common amino acid/urea cycle disorder?
PKU 1:10 000
What is the most common enzyme deficiency in PKU?
Phenylalanine hydroxylase
How is PKU detected by newborn screening?
Tandem MS detection of increased phenylalanine and increased phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio
In general, how is newborn screening of amino acid/urea cycle disorders performed?
After dried blood spot sample collection, tandem MS quantification of amino acid/metabolite profiles with interpretation of disease specific patterns
Describe amino acid/urea cycle disorders
Autosomal recessive disorders of amino acid or protein metabolism, in which a specific enzyme defect causes accumulation of neurotoxic amino acids, metabolites or ammonia
Describe organic acid disorders
Autosomal recessive disorders due to a specific enzyme defect in the organic acid metabolic pathway, resulting in accumulation of organic acids in blood/urine
How are organic acid disorders detected by newborn screening?
Tandem MS quantification of acylcarnitines with interpretation of disease-specific profiles
What factors affect newborn screening of inborn errors of metabolism?
Feeding status, diet type, transfusion (PKU)
Describe the fatty acid oxidation disorders.
Autosomal recessive disorders causing specific enzyme defects in the fatty acid metabolic pathways which affect utilisation of dietary and stored fats
What is the risk associated with fatty acid oxidation disorders?
During illness or fasting, the inability to utilise fatty acids for energy results in hypoglycaemia. Death from first crisis in pts with MCAD is 1 in 4!
How is CAH detected in newborn screening protocols?
Detection of increased 17-OHP by DELFIA
List factors causing false positives and false negatives for CAH newborn screening
False positives:
- low birth weight
- prematurity
- physiologic stress
- day 1 17-OHP surge
False negatives:
- treatment with glucocorticoids prior to sample collection
How is newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism performed?
Measurement of TSH on dried blood spot
Causes of congenital hypothyroidism
Athyreosis
Small, maldescended gland
Iodination defect
Clinical implications of hypothyroidism
Long term: Intellectual and physical disability
Short term: prolonged neonatal jaundice, feeding problems, FTT, constipation, lethargy, hypotonia, coarse facial features, thick tongue, hoarse cry, distended abdomen, umbilical hernia
Causes of false positives and negatives in newborn screening for hypothyroidism
False +ves: Very high TSH in first 24 hours of life, prematurity
False -ves: critically ill, premature, post-transfusion
What is galactosaemia?
An austosomal recessive disorder in which there is a deficiency of a specific enzyme required for conversion of galactose (from dietary lactose) to glucose. Accumulation of galactose in the blood causes organ toxicity
List the enzymes that may be deficient in galactosaemia. Which is the most common deficiency? Which of these enzyme deficiencies is detected by your state’s neonatal screening program?
GALT: Galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GUT) - the most common
GALK: Galactokinase
GALE: Uridine diphosphate-galactose-4-epimerase
In WA, GALT deficiency is screened for, however, GALK and GALE deficiency may be detected.
How is newborn screening for galactosaemia performed?
Detection of increased galactose and galactose-1-phosphate, and decreased GUT (galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase) activity on neonatal blood spot. Enzyme assay.
False negatives on galactosaemia testing may result from?
Extreme heat or delayed submission due to enzyme degradation
Baby not on milk feeds (do enzyme activity testing only)
Exchange transfusion (perform testing before transfusion)
Diagnostic testing for galactosaemia?
Genotyping. Could do plasma galactose and blood galactose-1-phosphate. RBC GUT activity.
Treatment of galactosaemia
Lactose-free diet
Clinical features of galactosaemia
Infants with classical galactosaemia are usually normal at birth; however, they soon develop jaundice and vomiting, and they fail to gain weight. Other symptoms of the condition include:
Liver failure and renal dysfunction
E.coli sepsis
Intellectual disability
Cataracts
Infants who are diagnosed early have good long-term outlooks although some may develop problems with their speech and women may suffer from infertility. Galactokinase deficiency only causes cataracts.
Rare causes of PKU?
Biopterin deficiencies
Clinical features of PKU
Normal for the first few months then development slows.
Microcephaly
Intellectual disability
Seizures
Autistic-like behaviour
Fair-light complexion, hair and eye colour
Musty odour
Diagnostic tests for PKU
Plasma amino acids
Urine pterins
Bloodspot DHPR enzyme
Treatment of PKU
Phenylalanine-restricted diet
Tyrosine supplementation
Tetrahydrobiopterin cofactor in some
How is newborn screening for cystic fibrosis performed in your state?
Increased immunoreactive trypsin (IRT)
Common CFTR variant analysis in those with IRT>99% (tested for p.Phe508del, p.Gly551Asp, p.Gly542*, and c.489+1G>T)
Diagnostic testing for cystic fibrosis
Sweat test
Extended CFTR gene analysis
Clinical assessment and genetic counselling
Limitations of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis in WA
May miss uncommon variants (95% affected individuals will have one of the four variants tested for)
Newborn screening program should be informed if there is any history of meconium ileus or a family history of CF, so variant analysis can be performed regardless of IRT result
Some healthy carriers may have a positive screening test
False positives occur more commonly if collected within first 24 hours of life
Most common fatty acid oxidation defect?
Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
Clinical presentation of MCAD deficiency?
Hypoketotic hypoglycaemia with risk of permanent neurological deficit/death
How is medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase screened for in your state?
By tandem MS.
Increased medium-chain acylcarnitines (C6, C8, C10, C10:1)
Increased C8/C2 ratio
Diagnostic tests for MCAD
Plasma acylcarnitine profile
Urine organic acids
ACADM gene analysis
Treatment of MCAD
Low-fat diet
Carnitine supplementation
Avoidance of fasting, particularly when sick
IV glucose during illness
What is the urea cycle
A metabolic pathway in the liver. Used to convert toxic nitrogenous waste (ammonia) to harmless urea which can be excreted in the urine.
Which amino acids are the main nitrogen containing acids?
Glutamine and alanine
What amino acids are produced by the urea cycle?
Arginine
Non-protein forming citrulline and ornithine
Which urea cycle disorder is X linked?
OTC deficiency (also most common of them)
Key biochemical feature of urea cycle disorders?
Hyperammonaemia
Causes of hyperammonaemia
Urea cycle disorders
Citrullinaemia type 2
Arginase deficiency
Biochemical pattern of UCDs
Ammonia > 100-150 umol/L with normal glucose and normal anion gap
Useful diagnostic tests for UCDs
Blood amino acids and urine organic acids (orotic acid) help to differentiate between UCDs