Neonatal screening in the Czech Republic: increased prevalence of selected diseases in low birthweight neonates

European Journal of Pediatrics volume 177, pages1697–1704(2018)Cite this article

Abstract

Neonates with low birthweight (LBW) represent a vulnerable population. This retrospective study analyzed the birth frequency of diseases detected by neonatal screening (NBS) in normal and LBW neonates in the Czech Republic. Between years 2002 and 2016, the number of screened disorders in the Czech Republic gradually increased from two to 13. Prevalence of screened diseases was calculated for cohorts ranging from 777,100 to 1,277,283 neonates stratified by birthweight. Odds ratio of the association of LBW with each disease was calculated and statistical significance was evaluated using the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate. Three diseases were associated with higher risk of prevalence in LBW neonates, namely congenital hypothyroidism (OR 2.50, CI 1.92; 3.25), cystic fibrosis (OR 2.44, CI 1.51; 3.94), and long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHADD) (OR 7.74, CI 2.18; 27.42).

Conclusion: Although the underlying mechanisms are not well understood, results can be hypothesized that LBW (respectively prematurity) may lead to the secondary and often transitory hypothyroidism while cystic fibrosis and LCHADD may manifest already prenatally and result into preterm birth and LBW.

What is Known:
• The percentage of low birthweight (LBW) neonates in the Czech Republic has been increasing.
• Previously published studies reported positive association between LBW and congenital hypothyroidism and cystic fibrosis.
What is New:
• The association between LCHADD and LBW has not yet been described.
• LBW can be the first manifestation of cystic fibrosis and LCHADD.

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Fig. 1

Abbreviations

17-OHP:

17-Hydroxyprogesterone

CACTD:

Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency

CFTR:

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

CAH:

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

CF:

Cystic fibrosis

CH:

Congenital hypothyroidism

CI:

Confidence interval

CPTID:

Carnitine palmitoyl transferase I deficiency

CPTIID:

Carnitine palmitoyl transferase II deficiency

GA I:

Glutaric aciduria type I (glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency)

IMDs:

Inherited metabolic disorders

IRT:

Immunoreactive trypsinogen

IVA:

Isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (isovaleric acidemia)

LBW:

Low birthweight

LCHADD:

Long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

MCADD:

Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

MS/MS:

Tandem mass spectrometry

MSUD:

Maple syrup urine disease

NBS:

Neonatal screening

OR:

Odds ratio

PKU/HPA:

Phenylketonuria/hyperphenylalaninemia

TSH:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

VLCADD:

Very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency

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Funding

Institutional support was provided by the project DRO VFN64165 from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic and by the projects Progres Q26 and Q36 from Charles University.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Viktor Kozich and Felix Votava contributed equally to this work.

Affiliations

  1. Department of Children and Adolescents, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Srobarova 1150/50, 100 34, Prague 10, Czech Republic

    Jan David, Eva Al Taji & Felix Votava

  2. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Ke Karlovu 455/2, Prague, Czech Republic

    Petr Chrastina & Viktor Kozich

  3. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Jihlavska 20, Brno, Czech Republic

    Hana Vinohradska

  4. Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Motol, V Uvalu 84, Prague, Czech Republic

    Andrea Holubova

  5. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University and University Hospital Olomouc, I. P. Pavlova 185/6, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Eva Hlidkova

Authors
  1. Jan David
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  2. Petr Chrastina
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Authors whose names appear on the submission have contributed sufficiently to the scientific work and therefore share collective responsibility and accountability for the results.

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Correspondence to Jan David.

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Communicated by Mario Bianchetti

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David, J., Chrastina, P., Vinohradska, H. et al. Neonatal screening in the Czech Republic: increased prevalence of selected diseases in low birthweight neonates. Eur J Pediatr 177, 1697–1704 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-018-3230-y

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Keywords

  • Congenital hypothyroidism
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency
  • Low birthweight
  • Neonatal screening