PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:
20-Aug-2014
Contact: Jim Fessenden james.fessenden@umassmed.edu 508-856-2000 University of Massachusetts Medical School
WORCESTER, MA Using population-based screening outcomes of approximately 3 million infants, a team of scientists across 14 states, including four researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, have shown that newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) can be successfully implemented across public health newborn screening programs. Data from 11 newborn screening programs published in the Aug. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed the rate of SCID in newborns is higher than previously thought and believed to be 1 in 58,000.
Newborn screening programs enable early detection of conditions for which prompt treatments can reduce the risk of death or irreversible damage. The first heritable immune disorders to which newborn screening has been applied are those that together comprise severe combined immunodeficiency. SCID babies are born without a developed immune system and are subject to a wide variety of life-threatening infections. However, the advance of stem cell transplantation to replace the immune system, coupled now with the opportunity to identify SCID early through newborn screening, holds the promise that affected children can lead normal, healthy lives. Early detection is critical for treatment of SCID and, in most cases, population-based testing through newborn screening programs is the only means to detect SCID prior to the onset of infections.
Unlike other conditions included in newborn screening, SCID requires a DNA-based testing strategy for every infant screened. In 2008, Wisconsin and Massachusetts were awarded grants from the Centers for Disease Control to develop, demonstrate and transfer testing strategies that could be adopted by other newborn screening programs. With data generated by these pilot programs, SCID was added to the national recommended uniform panel for newborn screened disorders in 2010. Currently 23 states, the District of Columbia and the Navajo Nation screen approximately two-thirds of all infants born in the United States for SCID.
The New England Newborn Screening Program, which is operated by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, has been performing newborn screening in Massachusetts since 1962 and now provides screening for about 500 newborns every day in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; SCID screening has been offered statewide in Massachusetts since early 2009 and Maine and Rhode Island recently authorized the New England Newborn Screening Program to test infants for SCID.
Antonia Kwan, PhD, MRCPCH, of the University of California, San Francisco, and collaborators, including members from the Massachusetts SCID Newborn Screening Working Group, conducted the analysis of more than 3 million infants screened for SCID in 10 states and the Navajo Nation. Infants born from the start of each participating program from January 2008 through the most recent evaluable date prior to July 2013 were included.
There were 52 SCID cases identified within the cohort, for an overall incidence of 1 in 58,000 births, up from the previous estimate of 1 in 100,000 births.
The incidence was not significantly different in any state program but was higher in the Navajo Nation (1/3,500), attributed to a genetic mutation found in this population. Survival of SCID-affected infants through their diagnosis and immune reconstitution was 87 percent, and 92 percent for infants who received transplantation, enzyme replacement and/or gene therapy. Additional interventions for SCID and non-SCID T-cell lymphopenia (abnormally low level of certain white blood cells) included immunoglobulin infusions, preventive antibiotics and avoidance of live vaccines. The observed short term outcomes confirm the benefit of newborn screening as was recently predicted by the retrospective study of transplantation outcomes from Pai et al (NEJM 371:5 July 31, 2014).
Read the original post:
Newborn screening expansion offers early diagnosis and treatment to infants with SCID
- Maine (Stem Cell) - what-when-how [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2014]
- Eye transplants and stem cells. - Artificial Eyes ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- Lund Stem Cell Center | Medicinska fakulteten, Lunds ... [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2014]
- Stem-Cell - Pathlights [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2014]
- Advanced Cell Technology changes its name to Ocata [Last Updated On: November 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 19th, 2014]
- Current stem cell treatments for spinal cord injury [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2014]
- VICTORIES & SUCCESS STORIES | The Stem Cell Blog | Page 8 [Last Updated On: January 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2015]
- Healthy stem cells donated by German man give Kerala girl ... [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2015]
- Maine Center for Research in STEM ... - University of Maine [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2015]
- History | Boston Children's Hospital - Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2015]
- Fat Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2015]
- Brunswick woman taking gamble that stem cells will restore ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- Maine Boy With Autism Improves After Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2016]
- Stem Cell Therapy - Maine Veterinary Medical Center [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2016]
- Maine Warden needs stem cell transplant | The Bridgton News [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2016]
- QMB Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Satellite ... [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2016]
- Honey Bees and Blueberry Pollination - University of Maine [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2016]
- Balding & Greying May Soon Be A Thing Of The Past. Get Your ... - Instinct Magazine [Last Updated On: August 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 16th, 2017]
- A Guide to Time Lag and Time Lag Shortening Strategies in Oncology-Based Drug Development - Biotech Blog (blog) [Last Updated On: August 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 16th, 2017]
- Keep an eye on safety - Shelbyville Times-Gazette [Last Updated On: August 16th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 16th, 2017]
- Stem Cell Therapy in Maine Stem cell injection & Pain ... [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2019]
- 145 orthopedic surgeon moves in 2019 through Q3 - Becker's Orthopedic & Spine [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2019]
- My Turn: The malaise of medical care - Concord Monitor [Last Updated On: December 3rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 3rd, 2019]
- Saving theAmerican chestnut - The Recorder [Last Updated On: February 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 29th, 2020]
- Indy Q&A: Cortez Masto wants government to take greater charge of mask, glove supply chain - The Nevada Independent [Last Updated On: March 28th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 28th, 2020]
- April 28 morning update: The latest on the coronavirus and Maine - Bangor Daily News [Last Updated On: April 28th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 28th, 2020]
- Maine health care workers have until Monday to reveal names in lawsuit over vaccine mandate - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2022]
- Mainer with MS to go to Mexico for stem cell transplantation ... [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2022]