In:
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 16, No. 1 ( 2021-04-30)
Abstract:
Alteration of vitamin B 12 metabolism can be genetic or acquired, and can result in anemia, failure to thrive, developmental regression and even irreversible neurologic damage. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention is critical. Most of the neonatal cases with acquired vitamin B 12 deficiency have been detected by clinical symptoms and only few of them trough NBS programs. We aim to assess the usefulness of the second-tier test: methylmalonic acid (MMA), methylcitric acid (MCA) and homocysteine (Hcys) in our newborn screening program and explore the implications on the detection of cobalamin (vitamin B 12 ) related disorders, both genetic and acquired conditions. Methods A screening strategy using the usual primary markers followed by the analysis of MMA, MCA and Hcys as second tier-test in the first dried blood spot (DBS) was developed and evaluated. Results During the period 2015–2018 a total of 258,637 newborns were screened resulting in 130 newborns with acquired vitamin B 12 deficiency (incidence 1:1989), 19 with genetic disorders (incidence 1:13,613) and 13 were false positive. No false negatives were notified. Concerning the second-tier test, the percentage of cases with MMA above the cut-off levels, both for genetic and acquired conditions was very similar (58% and 60%, respectively). Interestingly, the percentage of cases with increased levels of Hcys was higher in acquired conditions than in genetic disorders (87% and 47%, respectively). In contrast, MCA was high only in 5% of the acquired conditions versus in 53% of the genetic disorders, and it was always very high in all patients with propionic acidemia. Conclusions When screening for methylmalonic acidemia and homocystinuria, differential diagnosis with acquired vitamin B 12 deficiency should be done. The results of our strategy support the inclusion of this acquired condition in the NBS programs, as it is easily detectable and allows the adoption of corrective measures to avoid the consequences of its deficiency.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1750-1172
DOI:
10.1186/s13023-021-01784-7
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2225857-7
Permalink