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- Label: BACKGROUND NlmCategory: BACKGROUND content: "Sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia contributed 81% of 5\xC2\xB79 million under-5 deaths and 77% of 2\xC2\xB76 million stillbirths worldwide in 2015. Vital registration and verbal autopsy data are mainstays for the estimation of leading causes of death, but both are non-specific and focus on a single underlying cause. We aimed to provide granular data on the contributory causes of death in stillborn fetuses and in deceased neonates and children younger than 5 years, to inform child mortality prevention efforts." - Label: METHODS NlmCategory: METHODS content: "The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network was established at sites in seven countries (Baliakandi, Bangladesh; Harar and Kersa, Ethiopia; Siaya and Kisumu, Kenya; Bamako, Mali; Manhi\xC3\xA7a, Mozambique; Bombali, Sierra Leone; and Soweto, South Africa) to collect standardised, population-based, longitudinal data on under-5 mortality and stillbirths in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, to improve the accuracy of determining causes of death. Here, we analysed data obtained in the first 2 years after the implementation of CHAMPS at the first five operational sites, during which surveillance and post-mortem diagnostics, including minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), were used. Data were abstracted from all available clinical records of deceased children, and relevant maternal health records were also extracted for stillbirths and neonatal deaths, to incorporate reported pregnancy or delivery complications. Expert panels followed standardised procedures to characterise causal chains leading to death, including underlying, intermediate (comorbid or antecedent causes), and immediate causes of death for stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and child (age 1-59 months) deaths." - Label: FINDINGS NlmCategory: RESULTS content: Between Dec 10, 2016, and Dec 31, 2018, MITS procedures were implemented at five sites in Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Mali, and Bangladesh. We screened 2385 death notifications for inclusion eligibility, following which 1295 families were approached for consent; consent was provided for MITS by 963 (74%) of 1295 eligible cases approached. At least one cause of death was identified in 912 (98%) of 933 cases (180 stillbirths, 449 neonatal deaths, and 304 child deaths); two or more conditions were identified in the causal chain for 585 (63%) of 933 cases. The most common underlying causes of stillbirth were perinatal asphyxia or hypoxia (130 [72%] of 180 stillbirths) and congenital infection or sepsis (27 [15%]). The most common underlying causes of neonatal death were preterm birth complications (187 [42%] of 449 neonatal deaths), perinatal asphyxia or hypoxia (98 [22%]), and neonatal sepsis (50 [11%]). The most common underlying causes of child deaths were congenital birth defects (39 [13%] of 304 deaths), lower respiratory infection (37 [12%]), and HIV (35 [12%]). In 503 (54%) of 933 cases, at least one contributory pathogen was identified. Cytomegalovirus, Escherichia coli, group B Streptococcus, and other infections contributed to 30 (17%) of 180 stillbirths. Among neonatal deaths with underlying prematurity, 60% were precipitated by other infectious causes. Of the 275 child deaths with infectious causes, the most common contributory pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (86 [31%]), Streptococcus pneumoniae (54 [20%]), HIV (40 [15%]), and cytomegalovirus (34 [12%]), and multiple infections were common. Lower respiratory tract infection contributed to 174 (57%) of 304 child deaths. - Label: INTERPRETATION NlmCategory: CONCLUSIONS content: Cause of death determination using MITS enabled detailed characterisation of contributing conditions. Global estimates of child mortality aetiologies, which are currently based on a single syndromic cause for each death, will be strengthened by findings from CHAMPS. This approach adds specificity and provides a more complete overview of the chain of events leading to death, highlighting multiple potential interventions to prevent under-5 mortality and stillbirths. - Label: FUNDING NlmCategory: BACKGROUND content: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Successful intervention for inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) is a triumph of modern medicine. For many of these conditions, medical foods are the cornerstone of therapy and the only effective interventions preventing disability or death. Medical foods are designed for patients with limited or impaired capacity to ingest, digest, absorb, or metabolize ordinary foods or nutrients, whereby dietary management cannot be achieved by modification of the normal diet alone. In the United States today, access to medical foods is not ensured for many individuals who are affected despite their proven efficacy in the treatment of IEMs, their universal use as the mainstay of IEM management, the endorsement of their use by professional medical organizations, and the obvious desire of families for effective care. Medical foods are not sufficiently covered by many health insurance plans in the United States and, without insurance coverage, many families cannot afford their high cost. In this review, we outline the history of medical foods, define their medical necessity, discuss the barriers to access and reimbursement resulting from the regulatory status of medical foods, and summarize previous efforts to improve access. The Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children asserts that it is time to provide stable and affordable access to the effective management required for optimal outcomes through the life span of patients affected with IEMs. Medical foods as defined by the US Food and Drug Administration should be covered as required medical benefits for persons of all ages diagnosed with an IEM.

Background Chromoanagenesis events encompassing chromoanasynthesis, chromoplexy, and chromothripsis are described in cancers and can result in highly complex chromosomal rearrangements derived from ‘all-at-once’ catastrophic cellular events. The complexity of these rearrangements and the original descriptions in cancer cells initially led to the assumption that it was an acquired anomaly. While rare, these phenomena involving chromosome 1 have been reported a few individuals in a constitutional setting. Case presentation Here, we describe a newborn baby who was initially referred for cytogenetic testing for multiple congenital anomalies including cystic encephalomalacia, patent ductus arteriosus, inguinal hernia, and bilateral undescended testicles. Chromosome analysis was performed and revealed a derivative chromosome 1 with an 1q24-q31 segment inserted into 1q42.13 resulting in gain of 1q24-q31. Whole genome SNP microarray analysis showed a complex pattern of copy number variants with four gains and one loss involving 1q24-q31. Mate pair next-generation sequencing analysis revealed 18 chromosome breakpoints, six gains along an 1q24-q31 segment, one deletion of 1q31.3 segment and one deletion of 1q42.13 segment, which is strongly evocative of a chromoanasynthesis event for developing this complex rearrangement. Parental chromosome analyses were performed and showed the same derivative chromosome 1 in the mother. Conclusions To our knowledge, our case is the first case with familial constitutional chromoanagenesis involving chromosome 1q24-q42. This report emphasizes the value of performing microarray and mate pair next-generation sequencing analysis for individuals with germline abnormal or complex chromosome rearrangements.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the responses of 3,265 health professionals who took a continuing education (CE) activity during June 2009 - April 2012 for a comprehensive set of good laboratory practice recommendations for molecular genetic testing. DESIGN: Participants completed an evaluation questionnaire as part of the CE activity. Responses were summarized to assess the participants’ learning outcomes and commitment to applying the knowledge gained. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included nurses (47%), laboratory professionals (18%), physicians (14%), health educators (4%), public health professionals (2%), office staff (1%), and other health professionals (10%). RESULTS: Only 32% of all participants correctly answered all 12 open-book knowledge-check questions, ranging from 4 to 42% among the different professional groups (P

Background An increasing number of diagnostic evaluations incorporate genetic testing to facilitate accurate and timely diagnoses. The increasing number and complexity of genetic tests continue to pose challenges in deciding when to test, selecting the correct test(s), and using results to inform medical diagnoses, especially for medical professionals lacking genetic expertise. Careful consideration of a diagnostic workflow can be helpful in understanding the appropriate uses of genetic testing within a broader diagnostic workup. Content The diagnosis of long QT syndrome (LQTS), a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, provides an example for this approach. Electrocardiography is the preferred means for diagnosing LQTS but can be uninformative for some patients due to the variable presentation of the condition. Family history and genetic testing can augment physiological testing to inform a diagnosis and subsequent therapy. Clinical and laboratory professionals informed by peer- reviewed literature and professional recommendations constructed a generalized LQTS diagnostic workflow. This workflow served to explore decisions regarding the use of genetic testing for diagnosing LQTS. Summary and outlook Understanding the complexities and approaches to integrating genetic testing into a broader diagnostic evaluation is anticipated to support appropriate test utilization, optimize diagnostic evaluation, and facilitate a multidisciplinary approach essential for achieving accurate and timely diagnoses.

SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by significant neurodevelopmental disabilities with limited to absent speech, behavioral issues, and craniofacial anomalies. Previous studies have largely been restricted to case reports and small series without in-depth phenotypic characterization or genotype-phenotype correlations. Seventy two study participants were identified as part of the SAS clinical registry. Individuals with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of SAS were referred after clinical diagnostic testing. In this series we present the most comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic characterization of SAS to date, including prevalence of each clinical feature, neurodevelopmental milestones, and when available, patient management. We confirm that the most distinctive features are neurodevelopmental delay with invariably severely limited speech, abnormalities of the palate (cleft or high-arched), dental anomalies (crowding, macrodontia, abnormal shape), and behavioral issues with or without bone or brain anomalies. This comprehensive clinical characterization will help clinicians with the diagnosis, counseling and management of SAS and help provide families with anticipatory guidance.

This chapter covers a broad range of disorders that can present in the newborn period including lysosomal and peroxisomal storage disorders, congenital disorders of glycosylation, and Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) have a variety of presentations including nonimmune hydrops fetalis, neurologic manifestations, cherry-red spot, dysmorphic features, organomegaly, and dysostosis multiplex. Diagnosis occurs via enzyme assay and/or molecular testing. Newborn screening for selected LSDs has begun, raising ethical and moral concerns. Many LSDs may be treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The phenotypic presentation of congenital disorders of glycosylation is similarly broad ranging from mild to severe presentations and from single organ system to multisystem involvement. They should be considered in any unexplained clinical condition, but especially in multisystemic, neurologic conditions. Most diagnoses occur via molecular testing. Treatment is largely supportive with rare exceptions. Peroxisomal disorders are a heterogeneous group of disorders resulting from the absence or dysfunction of one or more peroxisomal enzymes. Features are varied, but include craniofacial dysmorphism, neurologic dysfunction, hepatodigestive dysfunction, renal cysts, and skeletal abnormalities. Diagnosis is best made by next generation sequencing following screening biochemical tests. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Smith-Lemli-Opitz (SLO) syndrome is a multisystemic, developmental and dysmorphic syndrome caused by a defect in cholesterol biosynthesis. Diagnosis is based on finding elevated 7-dehydrocholesterol and 8-dehydrocholesterol levels in the blood. Treatment involves cholesterol supplementation with supportive care.

Newborn screening (NBS) is intended to identify congenital conditions prior to the onset of symptoms in order to provide early intervention that leads to improved outcomes. NBS is a public health success, providing reduction in mortality and improved developmental outcomes for screened conditions. However, it is less clear to what extent newborn screening achieves the long-term goals relating to improved health, growth, development and function. We propose a framework for assessing outcomes for the health and well-being of children identified through NBS programs. The framework proposed here, and this manuscript, were approved for publication by the Secretary of Health and Human Services' Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (ACHDNC). This framework can be applied to each screened condition within the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP), recognizing that the data elements and measures will vary by condition. As an example, we applied the framework to sickle cell disease and phenylketonuria (PKU), two diverse conditions with different outcome measures and potential sources of data. Widespread and consistent application of this framework across state NBS and child health systems is envisioned as useful to standardize approaches to assessment of outcomes and for continuous improvement of the NBS and child health systems. Significance Successful interventions for newborn screening conditions have been a driving force for public health newborn screening for over fifty years. Organizing interventions and outcome measures into a standard framework to systematically assess outcomes has not yet come into practice. This paper presents a customizable outcomes framework for organizing measures for newborn screening condition-specific health outcomes, and an approach to identifying sources and challenges to populating those measures.

Newborn screening leads to improved treatment and disease outcomes, but false-positive newborn screening results may cause distress for parents. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of families who receive a false-positive newborn screening result in an attempt to discover ways to help improve the newborn screening communication process for families. This was a qualitative study using two methods of data collection: in-depth, semistructured interviews and focus groups. Participants (N = 27) were parents whose children (ages 6–16 months) underwent follow-up testing after newborn screening and whose follow-up test results indicated that the newborn screening result was a false-positive. Our analysis found that parents who have a false-positive newborn screening result experience five distinct stages. Most parents did not report long-term negative impacts of the experience, but some experienced some residual worry. Participants described effective provider communication as key in mitigating stress. Some parents identified the experience as leading to positive outcomes. Identifying best practices for communication between the health care providers and parents is an essential component in improving the newborn screening process. Further research is needed to discover best practices for communication to minimize potential harm and maximize the benefits of newborn screening. Genet Med 2012:14(1):76–80

The most common fatty acid oxidation disorder, medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD), has become the focal point for the adoption of tandem mass spectrometry to detect it and related inborn errors of metabolism. This article updates a human genome epidemiology review of MCADD published in 1999. The focus of this update is on epidemiologic parameters rather than mutations associated with MCADD. Currently available information from screening studies on the frequency of detection of MCADD in newborns, as well as the frequency of homozygotes for the common mutation in the ACADM gene, is summarized. In the United States, the average incidence of the disorder is from 1 in 15,000 to 1 in 20,000 births, with individual states reporting frequencies from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 30,000 births. In addition, a systematic review was undertaken of the published literature on the frequency of mortality and developmental disabilities among children with MCADD, both in screened and unscreened cohorts. It seems that in the absence of newborn screening for MCADD, premature death or serious disability occurs in 20% to 25% of children with the disorder. Systematic collection and analysis of follow-up data are still needed to ascertain the frequencies of outcomes in screened cohorts.

The purpose of this statement is to review the literature regarding mitochondrial disease and to provide recommendations for optimal diagnosis and treatment. This statement is intended for physicians who are engaged in diagnosing and treating these patients.The Writing Group members were appointed by the Mitochondrial Medicine Society. The panel included members with expertise in several different areas. The panel members utilized a comprehensive review of the literature, surveys, and the Delphi method to reach consensus. We anticipate that this statement will need to be updated as the field continues to evolve.Consensus-based recommendations are provided for the diagnosis and treatment of mitochondrial disease.The Delphi process enabled the formation of consensus-based recommendations. We hope that these recommendations will help standardize the evaluation, diagnosis, and care of patients with suspected or demonstrated mitochondrial disease.

New developments in the treatment and management of phenylketonuria (PKU) as well as advances in molecular testing have emerged since the National Institutes of Health 2000 PKU Consensus Statement was released. An NIH State-of-the-Science Conference was convened in 2012 to address new findings, particularly the use of the medication sapropterin to treat some individuals with PKU, and to develop a research agenda. Prior to the 2012 conference, five working groups of experts and public members met over a 1-year period. The working groups addressed the following: long-term outcomes and management across the lifespan; PKU and pregnancy; diet control and management; pharmacologic interventions; and molecular testing, new technologies, and epidemiologic considerations. In a parallel and independent activity, an Evidence-based Practice Center supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality conducted a systematic review of adjuvant treatments for PKU; its conclusions were presented at the conference. The conference included the findings of the working groups, panel discussions from industry and international perspectives, and presentations on topics such as emerging treatments for PKU, transitioning to adult care, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory perspective. Over 85 experts participated in the conference through information gathering and/or as presenters during the conference, and they reached several important conclusions. The most serious neurological impairments in PKU are preventable with current dietary treatment approaches. However, a variety of more subtle physical, cognitive, and behavioral consequences of even well-controlled PKU are now recognized. The best outcomes in maternal PKU occur when blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentrations are maintained between 120 and 360 Rtnol/L before and during pregnancy. The dietary management treatment goal for individuals with PKU is a blood Phe concentration between 120 and 360 [tmol/L. The use of genotype information in the newborn period may yield valuable insights about the severity of the condition for infants diagnosed before maximal Phe levels are achieved. While emerging and established genotype-phenotype correlations may transform our understanding of PKU, establishing correlations with intellectual outcomes is more challenging. Regarding the use of sapropterin in PKU, there are significant gaps in predicting response to treatment; at least half of those with PKU will have either minimal or no response. A coordinated approach to PKU treatment improves long-term outcomes for those with PKU and facilitates the conduct of research to improve diagnosis and treatment. New drugs that are safe, efficacious, and impact a larger proportion of individuals with PKU are needed. However, it is imperative that treatment guidelines and the decision processes for determining access to treatments be tied to a solid evidence base with rigorous standards for robust and consistent data collection. The process that preceded the PKU State-of-the-Science Conference, the conference itself, and the identification of a research agenda have facilitated the development of clinical practice guidelines by professional organizations and serve as a model for other inborn errors of metabolism.

The newborn who presents with neurologic symptoms such as seizures or lethargy due to inborn error of metabolism is an important problem. Although each inborn error that presents in this manner is rare, these conditions are not rare as a group, and more than one in 1000 babies is affected with one of the more than 100 different inborn errors that are now known. Many of these conditions present with much the same features seen in sepsis or asphyxia and, when untreated, can lead rapidly to death or permanent neurologic damage. Early diagnosis and management may prevent some or all of this morbidity, and also permits the parents to be informed about the changes of having other affected children. Despite the large number and complexity, most metabolic encephalopathies can be diagnosed by applying a few simple clinical principles and laboratory tests. These principles, and the typical features of some inborn errors that present in the neonate, are detailed in this article.

Patients with the RSH or Smith-Lemli-Optiz syndrome (SLOS) have an inborn error of cholesterol biosynthesis which results in a deficiency of cholesterol and an elevation of the cholesterol precursor, 7-dehydrocholesterol. A treatment protocol consisting of administration of cholesterol +/- bile acids was initiated in an attempt to correct the biochemical abnormalities seen. Fourteen patients (8 female, 6 male: ages 2 months to 15 years) have now been treated for 6-15 months. Three patients received cholesterol alone, while 11 patients received cholesterol and one or more bile acids. Biochemical improvement in sterol levels and in the ratio of cholesterol to total sterols was noted in all patients. The most marked improvement was noted in patients presenting with initial cholesterol levels < 40 mg/dl. No toxicity was observed. Clinical improvement in growth and neurodevelopmental status was also observed.

Mitochondrial medicine is a young subspecialty. Clinicians have a limited evidence base on which to formulate clinical decisions regarding diagnosis, treatment and patient management. Mitochondrial medicine specialists have cobbled together an informal set of rules and paradigms for preventive care and management based in part on anecdotal experience. The Mitochondrial Medicine Society (MMS) assessed the current state of clinical practice from diagnosis, to preventive care and treatment, as provided by various mitochondrial disease specialists in North America. We hope that by obtaining this information we can begin moving towards formulating a set of consensus criteria and establishing standards of care.

Fifty years after the implementation of universal newborn screening programs for phenylketonuria, the first disease identified through newborn screening and considered a success story of newborn screening, a cohort of adults with phenylketonuria treated from birth provides valuable information about effects of long-term treatment for inborn errors of metabolism in general, and phenylketonuria specifically. For phenylketonuria, newborn screening allows early implementation of the phenylalanine-restricted diet, eliminating the severe neurocognitive and neuromotor impairment associated with untreated phenylketonuria. However, executive function impairments and psychiatric problems are frequently reported even for those treated early and continuously with the phenylalanine-restricted diet alone. Moreover, a large percentage of adults with phenylketonuria are reported as lost to follow-up by metabolic clinics. While a group of experts identified by the National Institutes of Health convenes to update treatment guidelines for phenylketonuria, we explore individual patient, social, and economic factors preventing >70% of adult phenylketonuria patients in the United States from accessing treatment. As more conditions are identified through newborn screening, factors affecting access to treatment grow in importance, and we must continue to be vigilant in assessing and addressing factors that affect patient treatment outcomes and not just celebrate amelioration of the most severe manifestations of disease. Genet Med 2013:15(8):591–599

The key to the evaluation of inborn errors of metabolism in the neonate is inclusion of these disorders in the differential diagnosis and intelligent use of selected laboratory tests that can increase or decrease suspicion of metabolic disorders (Table). Because the selection of appropriate tests and the interpretation of the results are based on a number of different clinical symptoms and the presence or absence of hypoglycemia, hyperammonemia, and acidosis, no simple flow diagram can replace the physician9s acumen and judgment in determining when and how to pursue the diagnosis.

We analyzed data from a population-based case control study to determine whether maternal prenatal smoking or alcohol drinking might increase the risk of craniosynostosis. Between 1986 and 1989, the Colorado Craniosynostosis Registry ascertained 233 children whose diagnoses were confirmed by an independent radiologist. Of the 212 (91%) cases who participated 86 had lambdoid, 69 had sagittal, 25 had coronal, 18 had metopic, and 14 had multiple suture synostosis. Random sampling of birth certificate records yielded 367 eligible controls, of whom 291 (79%) participated. Study staff interviewed case and control mothers between 1989 and 1991 for prenatal smoking and alcohol drinking. We used Mantel-Haenszel and polychotomous logistic regression techniques to estimate the relative odds of craniosynostosis for smoking and drinking in all cases and in relevant case subgroups. Smoking was associated with a relative odds of craniosynostosis of 1.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.6). For smoking of more than one pack per day, the relative odds were 3.5 (1.5-8.4) for all types of synostosis combined, and 5.6 (2.1-15.3) for coronal synostosis. No strong or significant association was noted for drinking. Maternal prenatal smoking may increase the risk of craniosynostosis in this population.

Intrafamilial variability has not been reported previously in Hurler syndrome or Sanfilippo syndrome type A. We describe two families in which sibs with comparable deficiencies of α-iduronidase (Hurler) or sulfamidase (Sanfilippo type A) activities in vitro nonetheless have divergence in clinical severity and disease progression. These cases underscore the need for caution in counseling as well as the limitations of using sibs as controls in evaluating the outcome of treatment. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We describe a new case of molybdenum cofactor deficiency, an underrecognized inborn error of metabolism that results in neonatal seizures and neurologic abnormalities. Characteristic biochemical defects in affected individuals include hypouricemia, elevated urine sulfate (detectable by dipstick), and elevated S-sulfocysteine (detectable by anion exchange chromatography). This disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal seizures.

Article history: Received 16 March 2014 Received in revised form 18 March 2014 Accepted 18 March 2014 Available online 25 March 2014 and other neuro-psychologic and cognitive outcomes, and new pharmacological treatments for PKU were developed. To explore these new issues, an NIH State-of-the-Science Conference was convened in 2012. The two-day conference involved approximately 60 outside invited experts including professionals in the field of inborn errors of metabolism and representatives of patients and families, in addition to professional staff of the Department of Health and Human Services. This conference was just one part of a process that began with NIH

The US Secretary of Health and Human Services' Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children provides guidance to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with heritable disorders, with a special emphasis on those conditions detectable through newborn screening. Although long-term follow-up is necessary to maximize the benefit of diagnosis through newborn screening, such care is variable and inconsistent. To begin to improve long-term follow-up, the Advisory Committee has identified its key features, including the assurance and provision of quality chronic disease management, condition-specific treatment, and age-appropriate preventive care throughout the lifespan of affected individuals. There are four components central to achieving long-term follow-up: care coordination through a medical home, evidence-based treatment, continuous quality improvement, and new knowledge discovery.

Summary: We report two children who presented with symptoms suggestive of biotinidase deficiency. Rather than deficiency, markedly elevated serum biotinidase activities were found. Based upon literature reports of elevated biotinidase activities in children with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ia, we considered the latter in our differential diagnosis and subsequently confirmed GSD type Ia in both patients by enzymatic testing. GSD type Ia should be considered in children with markedly elevated serum biotinidase activity.

Six infants and children with medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency were found to have hyperuricemia during an acute episode. Hyperuricemia may be a clue to the diagnosis of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.

BACKGROUND The pre- and peri-natal drug exposures reported by women participating in a case-control study of children in Colorado were examined for association with infant craniosynostosis. METHODS Mothers of case and control children underwent a standardized telephone interview and obstetric and newborn medical record review. The interview included questions on the use of prescription and non-prescription drugs, nutritional supplements, recreational and drugs of abuse. The mother's obstetric record was abstracted for information about pharmacologic agents taken before and during the antepartum period. RESULTS There were no statistically significant risk ratios associating craniosynostosis with prenatal exposure to hydantoin, valproic acid, or cocaine. Mothers of four case children and one control child reported specific exposure to retinoic acid. There were no statistically significant increases in the odds ratio (OR) for any suture type among children exposed to hypoxigenic agents, sympathomimetic or parasympatholytic agents, or metal-containing agents. The OR was 1.87 (lower bound of the two-sided 95% test-based confidence interval (CI): 1.08) among children with sagittal/lambdoid suture synostosis who were exposed to nitrosatable drugs chlorpheniramine, chlordiazepoxide, and nitrofurantoin compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Certain nitrosatable drugs may be associated with increased risk of infant sagittal/lambdoid craniosynostosis. A possible mechanism related to ischaemia/reperfusion injury is suggested.

BACKGROUND During the 1980s, the Colorado Department of Health received reports from several high-altitude communities of clusters of the malformation craniosynostosis. In a population-based, case-control study, we examined the association between overall and trimester-specific maternal antenatal altitude exposure and the occurrence of infant craniosynostosis. METHODS We identified case children through a statewide registry and randomly sampled control children from birth records. By telephone interview, each mother provided data on the locations of all antenatal residences and places of employment as well as other factors. Staff mapped all locations and abstracted the corresponding altitudes. RESULTS The odds ratio (OR) of any synostosis for a time-weighted mean antenatal altitude of > or = 2000 metres (high altitude) versus < 2000 metres (low altitude) was 1.4 (lower bound of the one-sided 95% test-based confidence interval (CI): 0.9). The OR was elevated in smokers but not in non-smokers. As compared to non-smokers, the OR of any synostosis for high-altitude smokers was 4.6 (lower bound of the 95% one-sided exact CI: 1.7). Particularly elevated were the corresponding OR of coronal (18.1, 4.4) and metopic synostosis (16.3, 2.8), and OR for high-altitude exposure during the second trimester (any synostosis: 6.4, 1.99; coronal: 28.6, 6.1; metopic: 26.7, 4.1). CONCLUSIONS Antenatal maternal high-altitude exposure and smoking are associated with increased risk of infant craniosynostosis, perhaps through generation of intermittent hypoxaemia.

Points to Consider in Preventing Unfair Discrimination Based on Genetic Disease Risk: A Position Statement of the American College of Medical Genetics

The progress of nine maple syrup urine disease patients (eight classical, one possible variant) was reviewed to look for similarities in developmental patterns. A consistent developmental profile of stronger Verbal than Performance IQ and lower than familially expected IQ was seen. Younger age at diagnosis was associated with a milder neonatal course. Those who were asymptomatic or suffered mild complications in the newborn period have higher IQs than children experiencing moderate or severe complications. Children with asymptomatic or mild neonatal course also required less special education services. Overall, a picture of ubiquitous motor, visual-analytic and learning deficits is seen.

The risk of maternal phenylketonuria and hyperphenylalaninemia syndrome, a preventable cause of severe birth defects and retardation with a near 100% recurrence risk if untreated, is increasing in the United States.. The reasons for this are reviewed. Women with hyperphenylalaninemia and those with phenylketonuria diagnosed and treated at birth are intellectually normal, as are some women with undiagnosed phenylketonuria. Both groups are at risk for maternal phenylketonuria syndrome in their offspring if blood phenylalanine levels are not controlled by diet during pregnancy. The problems and pitfalls of suspecting, diagnosing, and managing the condition are discussed. Suggested strategies for reversing the increasing trend include the greater use of genetic registers, increased clinical awareness, and some form of rescreening. The advantages and costs of rescreening a subset of pregnant women or all pregnant women at or before their first registration are examined.

Background: In the late 1980s, evidence of an epidemic of craniosynostosis in Colorado included reports of clusters from selected high-altitude communities and an investigation showing the high and rapidly rising rates of surgically corrected synostosis. Some evidence suggested that local diagnostic practice could account for the epidemic. Objective: To determine the contributions of any excess rates of disease occurrence, surgery-based ascertainment, and diagnosis to the reported epidemic. Design: Population-based birth prevalence study with diagnostic evaluation. Setting: The Colorado Department of Health, April 15, 1986, to July 14, 1989. Patients or Other Participants: Children in the Craniosynostosis Registry or state birth record files. Main Outcome Measures: Birth prevalence was estimated from registry and birth record data; case classification by suture type and malformation patterns were determined by review of radiographs and medical records. Results: The period birth prevalence of radiographically confirmed nonsyndromic synostosis was 14.1 per 10 000 live births. Of a total of 605 children, 307 (51%) had definite radiographic evidence of synostosis, for which the intrarater reliability was good (except for the coronal suture on plain films) and the interrater reliability was fair or good (except for the metopic suture on plain films). Between the first and third years, case reports fell from 347 to 103. Conclusions: Diagnostic criteria strongly influenced the rate of synostosis. The rate of radiographically confirmed synostosis was within the range of published estimates. Low diagnostic thresholds, which changed over time, created the semblance of a severe statewide epidemic and may have obscured excess rates of disease at high altitude. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1997;151:159-164

Sir. —Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism characterized by the inability to hydroxylate phenylalanine (PHE) to tyrosine (TYR). The condition is diagnosed by documentation of elevated serum PHE levels, and typically leads to moderate to severe mental retardation in its untreated form. Individuals with PKU who undergo early dietary PHE restriction usually achieve a full-scale IQ in the normal range. 1 Serum PHE levels of 120 to 480 μmol/L are the typical target values in treatment and constitute good dietary control. Current clinical recommendations and research findings support the need to maintain dietary control throughout childhood. 2-4 For various reasons, monitoring of serum TYR levels is not routine in many metabolic clinics. In our clinic, approximately 38% of patients with PKU who are younger than age 19 years have below-normal serum TYR concentrations (48 μmol/L). This is not clearly correlated with the kind of medical food or diet

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaric aciduria was found in a newborn infant whose parents are first cousins. The patient presented at 5 days of life with hyperammonemia, hypoglycemia, and metabolic acidosis. There was no ketonuria. Diagnosis was made by analysis of the pattern of organic acids excreted in the urine. A profound deficiency in activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A lyase was found in cultured skin fibroblasts. The parents had intermediate levels of enzyme activity.

One of twins was bom with prune belly syndrome and congenital heart defect following exposure to Bendectin and Tigan. Red cell antigens and HLA typing were compatible with monozygosity. The possible associations of the prune belly syndrome to monozygotic twinning or to teratogenic agents is considered in light of this patient and review of the literature.

Si, au debut, le diagnostic et le traitement du syndrome de Reye (SR) et des erreurs hereditaires du metabolisme (ECM) qui lui ressemblent sont identiques, ensuite, les recherches diagnostiques, le traitement, le pronostic varient avec la cause sous-jacente. Revue des caracteristiques cliniques et metaboliques pouvant faire suspecter une ECM devant un tableau de SR

In a 9 month infant with the spinal fluid (CSF) NT abnormalities of biopterin synthesis defect we compared treatment with:BH4 high (20 mg/kg/d) dose only; BH4 low (3 mg/kg/d), moderate (10 mg/kg/d) or high dose with the NT precursors dopa/carbidopa (10/1 mg/kg/d) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5 mg/kg/d); and NT precusors with phenylalanine (phe) restricted diet. Over 4 months we evaluated clinical status, CSF biopterin, CSF NT major metabolites homovanilic acid (HVA), 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, and CSF NT minor metabolites 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid, vanilmandelic acid, m-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (MHPAA), p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (PHPAA) and indolacetic acid (IAA). Few control values for CSF biopterin and NT major metabolites and none for minor metabolites are known in children. Clinically the patient was well on NT precursors with or without BH4 and deteriorated on BH4 only. Liver enzymes, which were elevated at 4 months on BH4 only, remained normal and blood phe was in good control. CSF biopterin increased to at or above normal with moderate or high dose BH4 but virtually no response of HVA or 5-HIAA independent of NT precursors was seen. BH4 at any but low dose altered the IAA/5-HIAA ratio and BH4 at any dose increased PHPAA but not MHPAA. In this patient, the first in which NT minor metabolites have been measured on BH4, the CSF major metabolites could be maintained at normal levels only with NT precursors but BH4 modified the patterns of minor metabolites.

LISCH NODULES IN AN UNSELECTED POPULATION: PREVALENCE AND USEFULNESS AS INDICATION OF NEUROFIBROMATOSIS