Does cystic fibrosis neonatal screening detect atypical CF forms? Extended genetic characterization and 4-year clinical follow-up

Clin Genet. 2007 Jul;72(1):39-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2007.00825.x.

Abstract

The neonatal screening protocol for cystic fibrosis (CF) is based on a first determination of blood immunoreactive trypsin (IRT1), followed by a first level genetic test that includes the 31 worldwide most common mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene (DNA31), and a second determination of blood immunoreactive trypsin (IRT2). This approach identifies, in addition to affected subjects, a high proportion of newborns with hypertrypsinaemia at birth, in whom only one mutation is identified and who have a negative or borderline sweat test and pancreatic sufficiency. Although it has been suggested that hypertrypsinaemia may be caused by a single CFTR mutation, whether such neonates should be merely considered as healthy carriers remains a matter of debate as hypertrypsinaemia at birth may be a biochemical marker of a CFTR malfunction because of a second mild mutation. We analyzed, by means of an extended sequencing protocol, 32 newborns who tested positive at an IRT1/DNA31/IRT2 screening protocol and in whom only one CFTR mutation was found. The results obtained demonstrate that 62.5% of these newborns were also carrying a second mild CFTR mutation. The high proportion of compound heterozygous subjects, combined with the results of a 4-year follow-up in nine of these subjects all of whom displaying initial CF clinical symptoms, suggest that it may be possible to use the IRT1/DNA31/IRT2 protocol of neonatal screening to identify newborns with atypical forms of CF. In view of these findings, an extended genetic search for subjects with compound heterozygosity and a periodic clinical assessment should be considered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Cystic Fibrosis / diagnosis*
  • Cystic Fibrosis / enzymology
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genotype
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Neonatal Screening
  • Trypsin / blood
  • Trypsinogen / blood

Substances

  • CFTR protein, human
  • PRSS2 protein, human
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • Trypsinogen
  • PRSS1 protein, human
  • Trypsin