Objective: The observed irregularities in the biochemical profile and the limited information on long-term outcomes among patients with Duarte variant (D/G) galactosemia have led to patient management variability. This study examined the molecular characteristics of Filipino patients with presumed variant galactosemia for confirmation of diagnosis. It also aimed to describe the corresponding biochemical, clinical and neurodevelopmental profiles in order to gain a better understanding of the patients with normal galactose metabolites in spite of low to absent GALT activity detected by the local newborn screening program. Methods: Thirteen (13) patients who were presumed to have a variant form of galactosemia by national newborn screening between 2002 and 2010, and who previously underwent physical and neurodevelopmental assessment were included in the study. Repeat clinical, ophthalmologic and neurodevelopmental evaluations were done upon recruitment of participants. Direct sequence analysis of the coding region of the GALT gene was conducted to determine the patients’ genotypes. Results: None of the patients’ genotypes were consistent with Duarte variant (D/G) galactosemia. Their genotypes reflect the normal total blood galactose levels in patients, but were inconsistent with the absent or trace GALT activity. Conclusion Molecular testing for the entire cohort of presumed “variant” galactosemia Filipino patients will provide better profiling of this condition. Re-evaluation and assessment of the current guidelines used by national newborn screening in classifying variant galactosemia are recommended.
Galactosemias ; Neonatal Screening

No abstract available.
Galactitol* ; Galactosemias* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Mass Screening*

Galactosemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) enzyme activity. Classic galactosemia (G/G) is due to severe GALT deficiency in the presence of a GALT gene mutation, whereas Duarte variant (D/D) has 50% of normal GALT activity and benign clinical course. The D2 allele of Duarte variant is linked to a promoter deletion 5' to the translation start site (-119 to -116 delGTCA) in addition to N314D. So, Duarte variant/classical galactosemia (D/G) compound heterozygotes have relatively mild clinical manifestation than classical galactosemia and can be differentiated from classical galactosemia or Duarte variant by mutational analysis. We report a case of D/G galactosemia compound heterozygote proven by the reduction of GALT enzyme activity in erythrocytes and mutation analysis of GALT gene, which revealed N314D polymorphism and -119 to -116 delGTCA.
Alleles ; Erythrocytes ; Galactosemias* ; Heterozygote* ; UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase*

The trial of external quality assessment for inborn error of metabolism was performed in 2003. A total 10 specimens for neonatal screening tests were distributed to 43 laboratories with a response rate of 83%. All the control materials were sent as a filter paper form. Each laboratory replied the test result as the screening items they were doing as a rountine test at the reception of the specimen among PKU screening, neonatal TSH, neonatal T4(total/free), galactosemia screen, homocytinuria screen and histidinemia screen. The mean, SD, and CV were analyzed.
Galactosemias ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Metabolism* ; Neonatal Screening

Galactosemia is an inborn error of galactose metabolism, caused by an abnormality in the conversion of galactose and uridine diphosphoglucose to glucose-1-phosphate and uridine diphosphogalactose through the action of 3 sequential enzymes: galactokinase (GALK), galactose- 1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT), and uridine phosphogalactose 4-epimerase (GALE). The advent of newborn screening brought hope with early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Newborn screening advocates have pushed for inclusion of galactosemia in the newborn screening panel. However, reports of complications despite early treatment have questioned the merits of universal screening. This paper presents issues in favour and against universal newborn screening for galactosemia.
Galactosemias ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neonatal Screening ; standards

BACKGROUND

Newborns screened positive for Galactosemia through Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) with borderline levels undergo lactose challenge that requires interruption of breastfeeding temporarily then shifting to soy-based formula.

To determine the percentage of Classical Galactosemia (CGal), Non-classical Galactosemia (NCGal), probable mild variant form, and negative Galactosemia among newborns screened positive for Galactosemia who underwent lactose challenge.

This is a retrospective study. NBS records were reviewed and data were collected from January 2015 to December 2020.

Out of the 117 newborns screened positive for Galactosemia, 58 underwent lactose challenge. Majority were male, term with a birth weight of 2500-4000g and received a final disposition in 4-6 months. Fifteen patients underwent 1-week lactose challenge wherein six reached a resolution on first challenge. Majority, 35 (60.3%) were negative for Galactosemia, six (10.3%) probable mild variant Galactosemia, three (5.2%) NCGal, and no CGal were observed. Fourteen suspected cases (24.1%) are pending final disposition.

This study describes the demographics of newborns flagged for Galactosemia who underwent lactose challenge. A 1-week lactose challenge may be recommended to further detect patients who are negative for Galactosemia.

The trial of external quality assessment for inborn error of metabolism was performed in 2002. Total 10 specimens for neonatal screening tests were distributed to 61 laboratories with a response rate of 70.5%(43/61). All the control materials were sent as filter paper forms. Each laboratory replied the test results as the screening items they were testing routinely at the reception of the specimen among PKU screening, TSH, T4 (total/free), galactosemia screen, maple syrup urine disease screen, homocytinuria screen and histidinemia screen. The mean, SD, CV, median and range were analyzed.
Galactosemias ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea* ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; Mass Screening ; Metabolism* ; Neonatal Screening

Galactosemia, a term that denotes the presence of galactose in the blood, is the name of rare inborn error of galactose metabolism due to a deficiency of the enzyme galactokinase (GALK), galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) and uridine diphosphate-galactose 4-epimerase (GALE). GALT deficiency is the most common and shows the most severe clinical manifestation, including hepatomegaly, cataracts, and mental retardation. The main symptom of GALT deficiency is juvenile cataracts. GALE deficiency has two different forms; benign and severe forms. The benign form has no clinical significance, however, the severe form shows the same clinical manifestations as those of GALT deficiency.
Cataract ; Galactokinase ; Galactose ; Galactosemias* ; Hepatomegaly ; Intellectual Disability ; Metabolism ; Uridine ; UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase

OBJECTIVES: Birth defects are among the leading causes of infant mortality and morbidity in the Philippines. While affected infants make up a sizable portion of live births in General Santos City (GSC), no information is available about their actual numbers. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap about the prevalence and nature of congenital anomalies (CAs) and congenital metabolic disorders (CMDs) in the city from 2009 to 2012.

METHODS: A retrospective study of in-patient records from six(6) medical facilities was done for CA/CMD cases from 2009-2012. Among the CMDs tested were congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperlasia (CAH), galactosemia (GAL), hyperphenyalaninemia (HPA), phenylkentonuria  (PKU) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD def).

RESULT: Collected data revealed 109 cases of CAs with limb deformities, oro-facial clefting and neural tube disorders comprising majority of cases. There were 878 reported cases of CMDs with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD def) as the most prevalent at 829 cases. There was also a preponderance of CAs/CMDs in a government hospital for the indigent.

CONCLUSION: These result underscore the emergence of CAs and CMDs as a major health problem among newborns in GSC. Higher incidences of birth defects in one district hospital also reveal a tentative link between CA/CMD incidence and socioeconomic status. It is of paramount importance therefore, to undertake expansion of the newborn screening program and to establish local birth registries so that a more comprehensive and realistic picture of CA/CMD prevalence in the city will be obtained.

BACKGROUND: Newborn Screening (NBS) is a public health activity aimed at the early identification of infants who are affected by certain genetic/metabolic/infectious conditions. A cost analysis is critical for national implementation for integration as a public health program.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the incidence rates of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), galactosemia (GAL), phenylketonuria (PKU) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; and 2) To determine whether NBS is cost-beneficial for each disorder individually or in combination, from a societal perspective.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional survey and cost-benefit analysis.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted through a screening survey of the original 24 Metro Manila hospitals. Newborns were screened for CH, CAH, GAL, PKU and G6PD deficiency after the 24th hour of life. Those who screened positive underwent serum confirmatory testing. Using incidence rates from the screening survey, a population of 1.5 million, and different screening combinations, the costs for the detection and treatment of the five disorders were compared to the benefits projected from preventing the corresponding complications and consequent productivity losses. For economic evaluation, we compared sequential analysis of doing tandem/multiple testing for the different disorders vs a "do-nothing" alternative. Sensitivity analyses for different incidence and discount rates were conducted to test the strength of the conclusions.

RESULTS: The incidences of the disorders with 95% confidence intervals are: CH is 1:3 235 (1:2 219 - 1:5 946); CAH is 1:7 455 (1:4 046 - 1: 14245); GAL is 1: 106 006 (1: 44 218-1:266 796); and G6PD deficiency is 1:167 (1:151 - 1: 186). Screened individually, CH and G6PD deficiency had net benefits of US$ 5.29 M and US$ 15.44 M, respectively. The other conditions yielded net costs when screened individually - CAH (US$ 2.61 M), GAL (US$ 0.90 M) and PKU (US$ 6.74 M). Pairing the disorders with CH showed the following benefit:cost ratios - CH + CAH, 1.3; CH + GAL, 2.0; CH + G6PD deficiency, 3.4; and CH + PKU, 0.9. Combining disorders resulted in the following benefit:cost ratios - CH + CAH + GAL, 1.2; CH + CAH + GAL + PKU, 0.8; and CH + CAH + GAL + G6PD deficiency, 2.1. Screening for the 5 disorders in tandem resulted in a benefit:cost ratio of 1.4 and a net benefit of US$ 11.42 M.