[Evaluation of systematic neonatal screening for sickle cell diseases in Madrid three years after its introduction]. / Evaluación en el tercer año de implantación del cribado neonatal universal de anemia falciforme en la Comunidad de Madrid.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease which, as a result of migration, constitutes one of the most frequent genetic disorders in northwest Europe. Complications secondary to this disease are common during the first 3 years of life and early diagnosis has been recommended to reduce their development. The autonomous community of Madrid began to perform universal neonatal screening for hemoglobinopathies in May 2003. This study presents the results of the first 32 months of this screening program. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive study was designed to include all the neonates born in centers in the autonomous community of Madrid from May 2003 to December 2005. A heel prick dried blood spot from the Guthrie card was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to detect hemoglobin F, A, S, C, D and E. RESULTS: A total of 190,238 newborns were analyzed, and 1060 hemoglobin variants (5.57 for every 1000 births) were detected. Thirty-one were sickle cell diseases and appropriate antibiotics, vaccination and comprehensive care were initiated. Prenatal diagnosis of subsequent pregnancies was performed in three families after parental investigation. Carrier parents were from 44 countries of origin. CONCLUSIONS: Although sickle cell disease was considered anecdotic in Spain until recently, the diagnosis of this entity has markedly increased as a result of immigration. The universal screening program is expected to reduce morbidity and mortality in the first years of life.

Evaluación en el tercer año de implantación del cribado neonatal universal de anemia falciforme en la Comunidad de Madrid / Evaluation of systematic neonatal screening for sickle cell diseases in Madrid three years after its introduction

Antecedentes: La anemia falciforme es una enfermedad hereditaria que como resultado de las migraciones, constituye una de las alteraciones genéticas más frecuentes en el noroeste de Europa. Las complicaciones secundarias a la enfermedad son frecuentes durante los primeros 3 años de vida, y se viene recomendando un diagnóstico precoz para disminuirlas. La Comunidad de Madrid (CM) inició el cribado universal neonatal de hemoglobinopatías en mayo de 2003. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar los resultados de los primeros 32 meses de implantación de este programa. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo que incluye a toda la población de recién nacidos en cualquier centro de la CM desde mayo de 2003 a diciembre de 2005. La muestra de sangre fue la primera prueba del talón obtenida en las maternidades de forma sistemática a partir de las 48 h de vida del niño. Se analizó por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución (HPLC) para detectar hemoglobina (Hb) F, A, S, C, D y E. Resultados: Se analizaron 190.238 niños y se detectaron 1.060 variantes de hemoglobina (5,57 por cada 1.000 nacimientos). Un total de 31 de ellas fueron variantes de enfermedad falciforme (0,16 por cada 1.000 nacimientos), instaurándose antibioterapia profiláctica, vacunación apropiada y cuidados globales. El estudio de progenitores motivó la realización en embarazos posteriores de diagnóstico prenatal en 3 familias. El origen de los padres portadores de variantes de Hb abarcó 44 países. Conclusiones: Aunque la enfermedad de células falciformes ha sido considerada anecdótica en España hasta fechas recientes, el aumento en la inmigración ha supuesto un notable incremento en su diagnóstico. Se espera que el programa de cribado neonatal disminuya la morbilidad y mortalidad en los primeros años de vida

Background: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease which, as a result of migration, constitutes one of the most frequent genetic disorders in northwest Europe. Complications secondary to this disease are common during the first 3 years of life and early diagnosis has been recommended to reduce their development. The autonomous community of Madrid began to perform universal neonatal screening for hemoglobinopathies in May 2003. This study presents the results of the first 32 months of this screening program. Methods: A prospective, descriptive study was designed to include all the neonates born in centers in the autonomous community of Madrid from May 2003 to December 2005. A heel prick dried blood spot from the Guthrie card was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to detect hemoglobin F, A, S, C, D and E. Results: A total of 190238 newborns were analyzed, and 1060 hemoglobin variants (5.57 for every 1000 births) were detected. Thirty-one were sickle cell diseases and appropriate antibiotics, vaccination and comprehensive care were initiated. Prenatal diagnosis of subsequent pregnancies was performed in three families after parental investigation. Carrier parents were from 44 countries of origin. Conclusions: Although sickle cell disease was considered anecdotic in Spain until recently, the diagnosis of this entity has markedly increased as a result of immigration. The universal screening program is expected to reduce morbidity and mortality in the first years of life