Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic multisystem disorder requiring comprehensive care that includes newborn screening (NBS) as the first step of care. Italy still lacks a national SCD NBS program and policy on blood disorders. Pilot single-center screening programs and a regional targeted screening have been implemented so far, but more evidence is needed in order to impact health policies. Population and methods: NBS was offered to parents of newborns in gynecology clinics in Padova and Monza, tertiary care university hospitals in northern Italy. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed as the first test on samples collected on Guthrie cards. Molecular analysis of the beta-globin gene was performed on positive samples. Results: A total of 5466 newborns were enrolled; for 5439, informed consents were obtained. A similar family origin was seen in the two centers (65% Italians, 9% mixed couples, 26% immigrants). Compared with SCD NBS programs in the United States and Europe, our results show a similar incidence of SCD patients and carriers. All SCD patients had a Sub-Saharan family background; HbS carriers were 15% Caucasians (Italian, Albanians) and 10% from other areas (North Africa–India–South America); carriers of other hemoglobin variants were mainly (47%) from other areas. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a multicentric NBS program for SCD, give information on HbS epidemiology in two Northern Italian Areas, and support previous European recommendation for a universal NBS program for SCD in Italy: a high incidence of patients and carriers has been detected, with a high percentage of Caucasian carriers, impossible to identify in a targeted NBS.

Colombatti, R., Martella, M., Cattaneo, L., Viola, G., Cappellari, A., Bergamo, C., et al. (2019). Results of a multicenter universal newborn screening program for sickle cell disease in Italy: A call to action. PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, 66(5), e27657 [10.1002/pbc.27657].

Results of a multicenter universal newborn screening program for sickle cell disease in Italy: A call to action

Tagliabue, PE;BRACCHI, MICHELA FAUSTA;Biondi, A;
2019

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a chronic multisystem disorder requiring comprehensive care that includes newborn screening (NBS) as the first step of care. Italy still lacks a national SCD NBS program and policy on blood disorders. Pilot single-center screening programs and a regional targeted screening have been implemented so far, but more evidence is needed in order to impact health policies. Population and methods: NBS was offered to parents of newborns in gynecology clinics in Padova and Monza, tertiary care university hospitals in northern Italy. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed as the first test on samples collected on Guthrie cards. Molecular analysis of the beta-globin gene was performed on positive samples. Results: A total of 5466 newborns were enrolled; for 5439, informed consents were obtained. A similar family origin was seen in the two centers (65% Italians, 9% mixed couples, 26% immigrants). Compared with SCD NBS programs in the United States and Europe, our results show a similar incidence of SCD patients and carriers. All SCD patients had a Sub-Saharan family background; HbS carriers were 15% Caucasians (Italian, Albanians) and 10% from other areas (North Africa–India–South America); carriers of other hemoglobin variants were mainly (47%) from other areas. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a multicentric NBS program for SCD, give information on HbS epidemiology in two Northern Italian Areas, and support previous European recommendation for a universal NBS program for SCD in Italy: a high incidence of patients and carriers has been detected, with a high percentage of Caucasian carriers, impossible to identify in a targeted NBS.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Italy; newborn screening; sickle cell disease; Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health; Hematology; Oncology
English
2019
66
5
e27657
e27657
none
Colombatti, R., Martella, M., Cattaneo, L., Viola, G., Cappellari, A., Bergamo, C., et al. (2019). Results of a multicenter universal newborn screening program for sickle cell disease in Italy: A call to action. PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, 66(5), e27657 [10.1002/pbc.27657].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/226182
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