Prospective Newborn Screening for SCID in Germany: A First Analysis by the Pediatric Immunology Working Group (API)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Carsten Speckmann - , University of Freiburg (Author)
  • Uta Nennstiel - , Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL) (Author)
  • Manfred Hönig - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Michael H. Albert - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Sujal Ghosh - , Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Author)
  • Catharina Schuetz - , University Medicine (Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital), Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Inken Brockow - , Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL) (Author)
  • Friederike Hörster - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Tim Niehues - , Helios Klinikum Krefeld (Author)
  • Stephan Ehl - , University of Freiburg (Author)
  • Volker Wahn - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Stephan Borte - , Klinikum St. Georg Leipzig (Author)
  • Kai Lehmberg - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Ulrich Baumann - , Hannover Medical School (MHH) (Author)
  • Rita Beier - , Hannover Medical School (MHH) (Author)
  • Renate Krüger - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Shahrzad Bakhtiar - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Joern Sven Kuehl - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Christian Klemann - , Leipzig University (Author)
  • Udo Kontny - , RWTH Aachen University (Author)
  • Ursula Holzer - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Andrea Meinhardt - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Henner Morbach - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Nora Naumann-Bartsch - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Tobias Rothoeft - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • Alexandra Y. Kreins - , University College London (Author)
  • E. Graham Davies - , University College London (Author)
  • Dominik T. Schneider - , Witten/Herdecke University (Author)
  • Horst v. Bernuth - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Thomas Klingebiel - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Georg F. Hoffmann - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Ansgar Schulz - , Ulm University (Author)
  • Fabian Hauck - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

Background: T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC)-based newborn screening (NBS) for severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID) was introduced in Germany in August 2019. Methods: Children with abnormal TREC-NBS were referred to a newly established network of Combined Immunodeficiency (CID) Clinics and Centers. The Working Group for Pediatric Immunology (API) and German Society for Newborn Screening (DGNS) performed 6-monthly surveys to assess the TREC-NBS process after 2.5 years. Results: Among 1.9 million screened newborns, 88 patients with congenital T-cell lymphocytopenia were identified (25 SCID, 17 leaky SCID/Omenn syndrome (OS)/idiopathic T-cell lymphocytopenia, and 46 syndromic disorders). A genetic diagnosis was established in 88%. Twenty-six patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 23/26 within 4 months of life. Of these, 25/26 (96%) were alive at last follow-up. Two patients presented with in utero onset OS and died after birth. Five patients with syndromic disorders underwent thymus transplantation. Eight syndromic patients deceased, all from non-immunological complications. TREC-NBS missed one patient, who later presented clinically, and one tracking failure occurred after an inconclusive screening result. Conclusion: The German TREC-NBS represents the largest European SCID screening at this point. The incidence of SCID/leaky SCID/OS in Germany is approximately 1:54,000, very similar to previous observations from North American and European regions and countries where TREC-NBS was implemented. The newly founded API-CID network facilitates tracking and treatment of identified patients. Short-term HSCT outcome was excellent, but NBS and transplant registries will remain essential to evaluate the long-term outcome and to compare results across the rising numbers of TREC-NBS programs across Europe.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)965-978
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of clinical immunology
Volume43(2023)
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - 27 Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36843153
ORCID /0009-0003-6519-0482/work/146644420

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • HSCT, Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, NBS, Newborn screening, SCID, Severe combined immunodeficiency, T cell receptor excision circles, TREC, Thymus transplantation, Prospective Studies, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics, Humans, Germany/epidemiology, DNA, Lymphopenia/diagnosis, Neonatal Screening/methods, Severe Combined Immunodeficiency/diagnosis, Child, Infant, Newborn