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Therrell BL, Padilla CD, Borrajo GJC, Khneisser I, Schielen PCJI, Knight-Madden J, Malherbe HL, Kase M. Current Status of Newborn Bloodspot Screening Worldwide 2024: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Activities (2020-2023). Int J Neonatal Screen 2024; 10:38. [PMID: 38920845 PMCID: PMC11203842 DOI: 10.3390/ijns10020038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) began in the early 1960s based on the work of Dr. Robert "Bob" Guthrie in Buffalo, NY, USA. His development of a screening test for phenylketonuria on blood absorbed onto a special filter paper and transported to a remote testing laboratory began it all. Expansion of NBS to large numbers of asymptomatic congenital conditions flourishes in many settings while it has not yet been realized in others. The need for NBS as an efficient and effective public health prevention strategy that contributes to lowered morbidity and mortality wherever it is sustained is well known in the medical field but not necessarily by political policy makers. Acknowledging the value of national NBS reports published in 2007, the authors collaborated to create a worldwide NBS update in 2015. In a continuing attempt to review the progress of NBS globally, and to move towards a more harmonized and equitable screening system, we have updated our 2015 report with information available at the beginning of 2024. Reports on sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, missing in 2015, have been included. Tables popular in the previous report have been updated with an eye towards harmonized comparisons. To emphasize areas needing attention globally, we have used regional tables containing similar listings of conditions screened, numbers of screening laboratories, and time at which specimen collection is recommended. Discussions are limited to bloodspot screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradford L. Therrell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- National Newborn Screening and Global Resource Center, Austin, TX 78759, USA
| | - Carmencita D. Padilla
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila 1000, Philippines;
| | - Gustavo J. C. Borrajo
- Detección de Errores Congénitos—Fundación Bioquímica Argentina, La Plata 1908, Argentina;
| | - Issam Khneisser
- Jacques LOISELET Genetic and Genomic Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1104 2020, Lebanon;
| | - Peter C. J. I. Schielen
- Office of the International Society for Neonatal Screening, Reigerskamp 273, 3607 HP Maarssen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jennifer Knight-Madden
- Caribbean Institute for Health Research—Sickle Cell Unit, The University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica;
| | - Helen L. Malherbe
- Centre for Human Metabolomics, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa;
- Rare Diseases South Africa NPC, The Station Office, Bryanston, Sandton 2021, South Africa
| | - Marika Kase
- Strategic Initiatives Reproductive Health, Revvity, PL10, 10101 Turku, Finland;
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Ghosh S, Albert MH, Hauck F, Hönig M, Schütz C, Schulz A, Speckmann C. [Newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) in Germany]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2023; 66:1222-1231. [PMID: 37726421 PMCID: PMC10622353 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-023-03773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Patients with a severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) harbor genetic mutations disrupting T cell immunity and hence suffer severe, life-threatening infections or manifestations of immune dysregulation within the first months of their life. The only cure is to correct their immune system, usually by means of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Pilot studies and national programs in the United States and in European countries have shown that patients can be identified at an early asymptomatic stage through newborn screening. This allows treatment before the occurrence of severe complications, which improves the outcome of curative strategies like HSCT.After assessment by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), the SCID screening was implemented into newborn screening in Germany in 2019. The first results of the screening (dry blood spot cards from around 2 million newborns between August 2019 and February 2022) were recently published. As expected, in addition to classic SCID diseases (incidence 1:54,000), infants with syndromic disorders and T cell lymphopenia were also identified. All patients with classic SCID were scheduled for curative treatment. Of the 25 patients with classic SCID, 21 were already transplanted at the time of data analysis. Only one of 21 transplanted patients died due to pre-existing infections. A comparison of the recent screening data with historical data suggests that SCID newborn screening has been successfully implemented in Germany. Patients with SCID are routinely identified very early and scheduled for curative therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujal Ghosh
- Klinik für Kinder-Onkologie, -Hämatologie und Klinische Immunologie, Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
- Klinik für Kinder-Onkologie, -Hämatologie und Klinische Immunologie, Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
| | - Michael H Albert
- Kinderklinik und Kinderpoliklinik im Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Deutschland
| | - Fabian Hauck
- Kinderklinik und Kinderpoliklinik im Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspital, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Deutschland
| | - Manfred Hönig
- Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Deutschland
| | - Catharina Schütz
- Pädiatrische Immunologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus an der Technischen Universität Dresden, Dresden, Deutschland
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm, Deutschland
| | - Carsten Speckmann
- Pädiatrische Hämatologie und Onkologie, Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin und Centrum für Chronische Immundefizienz, Institut für Immundefizienz, Medizinische Fakultät, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Freiburg, Deutschland
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Staudacher O, Klein J, Thee S, Ullrich J, Wahn V, Unterwalder N, Kölsch U, Lankes E, Stittrich A, Dedieu C, Dinges S, Völler M, Schuetz C, Schulte J, Boztug K, Meisel C, Kuehl JS, Krüger R, Blankenstein O, von Bernuth H. Screening Newborns for Low T Cell Receptor Excision Circles (TRECs) Fails to Detect Immunodeficiency, Centromeric Instability, and Facial Anomalies Syndrome. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:2872-2883. [PMID: 37302792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Assessment of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) in dried blood spots of newborns allows the detection of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) (T cells <300/μL at birth) with a presumed sensitivity of 100%. TREC screening also identifies patients with selected combined immunodeficiency (CID) (T cells >300/μL, yet <1500/μL at birth). Nevertheless, relevant CIDs that would benefit from early recognition and curative treatment pass undetected. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that TREC screening at birth cannot identify CIDs that develop with age. METHODS We analyzed the number of TRECs in dried blood spots in archived Guthrie cards of 22 children who had been born in the Berlin-Brandenburg area between January 2006 and November 2018 and who had undergone hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) for inborn errors of immunity. RESULTS All patients with SCID would have been identified by TREC screening, but only 4 of 6 with CID. One of these patients had immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial anomalies syndrome type 2 (ICF2). Two of 3 patients with ICF whom we have been following up at our institution had TREC numbers above the cutoff value suggestive of SCID at birth. Yet all patients with ICF had a severe clinical course that would have justified earlier HSCT. CONCLUSIONS In ICF, naïve T cells may be present at birth, yet they decline with age. Therefore, TREC screening cannot identify these patients. Early recognition is nevertheless crucial, as patients with ICF benefit from HSCT early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Staudacher
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Department of Immunology, Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeanette Klein
- Newborn Screening Laboratory, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephanie Thee
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Ullrich
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Volker Wahn
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Unterwalder
- Department of Immunology, Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Kölsch
- Department of Immunology, Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Erwin Lankes
- Newborn Screening Laboratory, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Charité-Uninrsitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Stittrich
- Department of Human Genetics, Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cinzia Dedieu
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Dinges
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirjam Völler
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catharina Schuetz
- Department of Pediatrics, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Johannes Schulte
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kaan Boztug
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases, Vienna, Austria; St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute, Vienna, Austria; CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, St. Anna Children's Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Meisel
- Department of Immunology, Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Medical Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörn-Sven Kuehl
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Hemostaseology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Renate Krüger
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Horst von Bernuth
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany; Department of Immunology, Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.
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Lisco A, Ortega-Villa AM, Mystakelis H, Anderson MV, Mateja A, Laidlaw E, Manion M, Roby G, Higgins J, Kuriakose S, Walkiewicz MA, Similuk M, Leiding JW, Freeman AF, Sheikh V, Sereti I. Reappraisal of Idiopathic CD4 Lymphocytopenia at 30 Years. N Engl J Med 2023; 388:1680-1691. [PMID: 37133586 PMCID: PMC10239023 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2202348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a clinical syndrome that is defined by CD4 lymphopenia of less than 300 cells per cubic millimeter in the absence of any primary or acquired cause of immunodeficiency. Some 30 years after its original identification, ICL has remained a disease of obscure cause, with limited evidence with respect to its prognosis or management, despite diagnostic and therapeutic innovations. METHODS We evaluated the clinical, genetic, immunologic, and prognostic characteristics of 108 patients who were enrolled during an 11-year period. We performed whole-exome and targeted gene sequencing to identify genetic causes of lymphopenia. We also performed longitudinal linear mixed-model analyses of T-cell count trajectories and evaluated predictors of clinical events, the response to immunization against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), and mortality. RESULTS After the exclusion of patients with genetic and acquired causes of CD4 lymphopenia, the study population included 91 patients with ICL during 374 person-years of follow-up. The median CD4+ T-cell count among the patients was 80 cells per cubic millimeter. The most prevalent opportunistic infections were diseases related to human papillomavirus (in 29%), cryptococcosis (in 24%), molluscum contagiosum (in 9%), and nontuberculous mycobacterial diseases (in 5%). A reduced CD4 count (<100 cells per cubic millimeter), as compared with a CD4 count of 101 to 300 cells, was associated with a higher risk of opportunistic infection (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8 to 10.7) and invasive cancer (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.3) and a lower risk of autoimmunity (odds ratio, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.9). The risk of death was similar to that in the age- and sex-adjusted general population, but the prevalence of cancer was higher. CONCLUSIONS Among the study patients, ICL continued to be associated with increased susceptibility to viral, encapsulated fungal, and mycobacterial diseases, as well as with a reduced response to novel antigens and an increased risk of cancer. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Cancer Institute; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00867269.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Lisco
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Ana M Ortega-Villa
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Harry Mystakelis
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Megan V Anderson
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Allyson Mateja
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Elizabeth Laidlaw
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Maura Manion
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Gregg Roby
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Jeanette Higgins
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Safia Kuriakose
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Magdalena A Walkiewicz
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Morgan Similuk
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Jennifer W Leiding
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Alexandra F Freeman
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Virginia Sheikh
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
| | - Irini Sereti
- From the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (A.L., H.M., M.V.A., E.L., M.M., G.R., V.S., I.S.), Biostatistics Research Branch, Division of Clinical Research (A.M.O.-V.), Centralized Sequencing Program, Division of Intramural Research (M.A.W., M.S.), and the Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology (A.F.F.), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate (A.M.), Leidos Biomedical Research (J.H.), and the Clinical Research Directorate (S.K.), Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, and the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (J.W.L.) - all in Maryland
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Mauracher AA, Henrickson SE. Leveraging Systems Immunology to Optimize Diagnosis and Treatment of Inborn Errors of Immunity. FRONTIERS IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2022; 2:910243. [PMID: 37670772 PMCID: PMC10477056 DOI: 10.3389/fsysb.2022.910243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are monogenic disorders that can cause diverse symptoms, including recurrent infections, autoimmunity and malignancy. While many factors have contributed, the increased availability of next-generation sequencing has been central in the remarkable increase in identification of novel monogenic IEI over the past years. Throughout this phase of disease discovery, it has also become evident that a given gene variant does not always yield a consistent phenotype, while variants in seemingly disparate genes can lead to similar clinical presentations. Thus, it is increasingly clear that the clinical phenotype of an IEI patient is not defined by genetics alone, but is also impacted by a myriad of factors. Accordingly, we need methods to amplify our current diagnostic algorithms to better understand mechanisms underlying the variability in our patients and to optimize treatment. In this review, we will explore how systems immunology can contribute to optimizing both diagnosis and treatment of IEI patients by focusing on identifying and quantifying key dysregulated pathways. To improve mechanistic understanding in IEI we must deeply evaluate our rare IEI patients using multimodal strategies, allowing both the quantification of altered immune cell subsets and their functional evaluation. By studying representative controls and patients, we can identify causative pathways underlying immune cell dysfunction and move towards functional diagnosis. Attaining this deeper understanding of IEI will require a stepwise strategy. First, we need to broadly apply these methods to IEI patients to identify patterns of dysfunction. Next, using multimodal data analysis, we can identify key dysregulated pathways. Then, we must develop a core group of simple, effective functional tests that target those pathways to increase efficiency of initial diagnostic investigations, provide evidence for therapeutic selection and contribute to the mechanistic evaluation of genetic results. This core group of simple, effective functional tests, targeting key pathways, can then be equitably provided to our rare patients. Systems biology is thus poised to reframe IEI diagnosis and therapy, fostering research today that will provide streamlined diagnosis and treatment choices for our rare and complex patients in the future, as well as providing a better understanding of basic immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea A. Mauracher
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sarah E. Henrickson
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Walkovich K, Grunebaum E. A Sherlock Approach to a Kindred With a Variable Immunohematologic Phenotype. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2022; 10:1714-1722. [PMID: 35470097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Given the ubiquity of leukopenia and sinopulmonary infections in childhood, differentiating patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) from otherwise healthy patients can be challenging. The diagnostic complexity is further exacerbated in disorders with wide phenotypic variability such as warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome. However, using a Sherlock approach with careful attention to details in the patient's medical history and physical examination coupled with a comprehensive family history can heighten the index of suspicion for underlying IEI. Subsequent iterative and deductive reasoning incorporating results from laboratory interrogation, response (or lack thereof) to standard therapy, and emergence of new symptoms can further aid in a timely diagnosis of IEI. Herein, we detail a WHIM syndrome kindred with marked phenotype variability, identified after the presentation of a child with intermittent neutropenia and sinopulmonary infections. The complexity of this kindred highlights the utility of an interspecialty, collaborative Sherlock approach to diagnosis, and care. In addition, the genetic underpinnings, diagnostic approaches, clinical features, supportive care options, and management of WHIM syndrome are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Walkovich
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
| | - Eyal Grunebaum
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Carol HA, Ochfeld EN, Ahmed A. In-utero exposure to immunosuppressive medications resulting in abnormal newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency: a case series on natural history and management. Immunol Res 2022; 70:561-565. [PMID: 35661972 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-022-09297-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to immunosuppressive medication in utero is an important cause of secondary T cell lymphopenia in infancy, which can be detected via T cell receptor excision circle (TREC) quantification on severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) newborn screening (NBS). At present, there is a paucity of literature surrounding management of these infants. A protocol including recommendations for vaccinations and follow-up is needed to augment care. Patients referred to immunology for abnormal TREC results on NBS were identified as having in utero exposure to immunosuppressive medications and were followed until lymphopenia improved. The natural history of these patients' lymphopenia was used to develop general management guidelines. Four infants with low TRECs secondary to in utero immunosuppressive exposure were evaluated. Medication exposures included azathioprine, infliximab, hydroxychloroquine, and fingolimod. All infants were born full term. TRECs ranged from 101-206 (normal value in IL ≥ 250 at time of testing, B-actin control). T cell lymphopenia (CD3 < 1500) was present in 50% of cases. Undetectably low effector CD4 naïve T cell population was present in 100% of cases. Mitogen proliferation was uniformly normal. Severity of TREC abnormality did not correlate with presence of T cell lymphopenia. Immune abnormalities normalized in 75% patients by age 4 months. All age-appropriate vaccinations, including live vaccines, were administered to all patients by age 4 months. It is critical to assess for in utero immunosuppressive exposure in infants with abnormal TREC results on NBS. In the infants evaluated, secondary T cell lymphopenia associated with maternal immunosuppressive use resolved or significantly improved by age 4 months. Once abnormal TREC count is deemed to be secondary to in utero immunosuppression and there are no other contraindications, infants may safely receive live vaccination, are able to drink breast milk, and do not require prophylactic anti-microbials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hallie A Carol
- General Academic Pediatrics, McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University / Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Elisa N Ochfeld
- Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Aisha Ahmed
- Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Allergy/Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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Yilmaz M, Potts DE, Geier C, Walter JE. Can we identify WHIM in infancy? Opportunities with the public newborn screening process. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS. PART C, SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2022; 190:215-221. [PMID: 36210583 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.32002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Newborn screening (NBS) for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) utilizing T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) has been implemented in all 50 states as of December 2018 and has been transformative for the clinical care of SCID patients. Though having high sensitivity for SCID, NBS-SCID has low specificity, therefore is able to detect other causes of lymphopenia in newborns including many inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). In a recent study, three of six newborns later diagnosed with Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, and Myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome were found to have a low TRECs and lymphopenia at birth. This presents an opportunity to increase the detection and diagnosis of WHIM syndrome by NBS-SCID with immunological follow-up along with a combination of flow cytometry for immune cell subsets, absolute neutrophil count, and genetic testing, extending beyond the conventional bone marrow studies. Coupled with emerging technologies such as next-generation sequencing, transcriptomics and proteomics, dried blood spots used in NBS-SCID will promote earlier detection, diagnosis, and therefore treatment of IEIs such as WHIM syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melis Yilmaz
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - David Evan Potts
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | - Christoph Geier
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jolan E Walter
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Chan SWB, Zhong Y, Lim SCJ, Poh S, Teh KL, Soh JY, Chong CY, Thoon KC, Seng M, Tan ES, Arkachaisri T, Liew WK. Implementation of Universal Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency in Singapore While Continuing Routine Bacille-Calmette-Guerin Vaccination Given at Birth. Front Immunol 2022; 12:794221. [PMID: 35046952 PMCID: PMC8761728 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.794221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) is generally fatal if untreated; it predisposes to severe infections, including disseminated Bacille-Calmette-Guerin (BCG) disease from BCG vaccination at birth. However, delaying BCG vaccination can be detrimental to the population in tuberculosis-endemic regions. Early diagnosis of SCID through newborn screening followed by pre-emptive treatment with anti-mycobacterial therapy may be an alternative strategy to delaying routine BCG vaccination. We report the results of the first year of newborn SCID screening in Singapore while continuing routine BCG vaccination at birth. Method Newborn screening using a T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) assay was performed in dried blood spots received between 10 October 2019 to 9 October 2020 using the Enlite Neonatal TREC kit. Patients with low TREC had lymphocyte subset analysis and full blood count performed to determine the severity of lymphopenia and likelihood of SCID to guide further management. Results Of the 35888 newborns screened in 1 year, no SCID cases were detected, while 13 cases of non-SCID T-cell lymphopenia (TCL) were picked up. Using a threshold for normal TREC to be >18 copies/μL, the retest rate was 0.1% and referral rate to immunologist was 0.04%. Initial low TREC correlated with low absolute lymphocyte counts (ALC), and subsequent normal ALC corresponded with increases in TREC, thus patients with normal first CD3+ T cell counts were considered to have transient idiopathic TCL instead of false positive results. 7/13 (54%) had secondary TCL (from sepsis, Trisomy 21 with hydrops and stoma losses or chylothorax, extreme prematurity, or partial DiGeorge Syndrome) and 6/13 (46%) had idiopathic TCL. No cases of SCID were diagnosed clinically in Singapore during this period and for 10 months after, indicating that no cases were missed by the screening program. 8/9 (89%) of term infants with abnormal TREC results received BCG vaccination within the first 6 days of life when TREC and ALC were low. No patients developed BCG complications after a median follow-up of 17 months. Conclusion Newborn screening for SCID can be implemented while continuing routine BCG vaccination at birth. Patients with transient TCL and no underlying primary immunodeficiency are able to tolerate BCG vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Wan Bianca Chan
- Rheumatology and Immunology Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Youjia Zhong
- Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Soon Chuan James Lim
- Biochemical Genetics and National Expanded Newborn Screening, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sherry Poh
- Biochemical Genetics and National Expanded Newborn Screening, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kai Liang Teh
- Rheumatology and Immunology Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jian Yi Soh
- Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chia Yin Chong
- Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Koh Cheng Thoon
- Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michaela Seng
- Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Hematology Oncology Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ee Shien Tan
- Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Genetics Service, Department of Pediatrics, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Thaschawee Arkachaisri
- Rheumatology and Immunology Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woei Kang Liew
- Rheumatology and Immunology Service, Department of Pediatric Subspecialties, Kadang Kerbau (KK) Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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Blom M, Pico-Knijnenburg I, Imholz S, Vissers L, Schulze J, Werner J, Bredius R, van der Burg M. Second Tier Testing to Reduce the Number of Non-actionable Secondary Findings and False-Positive Referrals in Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. J Clin Immunol 2021; 41:1762-1773. [PMID: 34370170 PMCID: PMC8604867 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-021-01107-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Newborn screening (NBS) for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is based on the detection of T-cell receptor excision circles (TRECs). TRECs are a sensitive biomarker for T-cell lymphopenia, but not specific for SCID. This creates a palette of secondary findings associated with low T-cells that require follow-up and treatment or are non-actionable. The high rate of (non-actionable) secondary findings and false-positive referrals raises questions about the harm-benefit-ratio of SCID screening, as referrals are associated with high emotional impact and anxiety for parents. METHODS An alternative quantitative TREC PCR with different primers was performed on NBS cards of referred newborns (N = 56) and epigenetic immune cell counting was used as for relative quantification of CD3 + T-cells (N = 59). Retrospective data was used to determine the reduction in referrals with a lower TREC cutoff value or an adjusted screening algorithm. RESULTS When analyzed with a second PCR with different primers, 45% of the referrals (25/56) had TREC levels above cutoff, including four false-positive cases in which two SNPs were identified. With epigenetic qPCR, 41% (24/59) of the referrals were within the range of the relative CD3 + T-cell counts of the healthy controls. Lowering the TREC cutoff value or adjusting the screening algorithm led to lower referral rates but did not prevent all false-positive referrals. CONCLUSIONS Second tier tests and adjustments of cutoff values or screening algorithms all have the potential to reduce the number of non-actionable secondary findings in NBS for SCID, although second tier tests are more effective in preventing false-positive referrals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maartje Blom
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Pico-Knijnenburg
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Imholz
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte Vissers
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Janika Schulze
- Department of Research and Development, Epimune GmbH, Belin, Germany
| | - Jeannette Werner
- Department of Research and Development, Epimune GmbH, Belin, Germany
| | - Robbert Bredius
- Department of Pediatrics, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam van der Burg
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Evaluation of newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Br J Gen Pract 2021; 71:456-457. [PMID: 34593393 DOI: 10.3399/bjgp21x717209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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Blom M, Zetterström RH, Stray-Pedersen A, Gilmour K, Gennery AR, Puck JM, van der Burg M. Recommendations for uniform definitions used in newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 149:1428-1436. [PMID: 34537207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public health newborn screening (NBS) programs continuously evolve, taking advantage of international shared learning. NBS for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) has recently been introduced in many countries. However, comparison of screening outcomes has been hampered by use of disparate terminology and imprecise or variable case definitions for non-SCID conditions with T-cell lymphopenia. OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine whether standardized screening terminology could overcome a Babylonian confusion and whether improved case definitions would promote international exchange of knowledge. METHODS A systematic literature review highlighted the diverse terminology in SCID NBS programs internationally. While, as expected, individual screening strategies and tests were tailored to each program, we found uniform terminology to be lacking in definitions of disease targets, sensitivity, and specificity required for comparisons across programs. RESULTS The study's recommendations reflect current evidence from literature and existing guidelines coupled with opinion of experts in public health screening and immunology. Terminologies were aligned. The distinction between actionable and nonactionable T-cell lymphopenia among non-SCID cases was clarified, the former being infants with T-cell lymphopenia who could benefit from interventions such as protection from infections, antibiotic prophylaxis, and live-attenuated vaccine avoidance. CONCLUSIONS By bringing together the previously unconnected public health screening community and clinical immunology community, these SCID NBS deliberations bridged the gaps in language and perspective between these disciplines. This study proposes that international specialists in each disorder for which NBS is performed join forces to hone their definitions and recommend uniform registration of outcomes of NBS. Standardization of terminology will promote international exchange of knowledge and optimize each phase of NBS and follow-up care, advancing health outcomes for children worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maartje Blom
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Rolf H Zetterström
- Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Asbjørg Stray-Pedersen
- Norwegian National Unit for Newborn Screening, Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kimberly Gilmour
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research-Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Center, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew R Gennery
- Children's Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer M Puck
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif; University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif
| | - Mirjam van der Burg
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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