Cystic fibrosis screen positive inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID): Experience in Tuscany, Italy

Abstract

ObjectiveThe implementation of cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS) has led to identification of infants with a positive NBS test but inconclusive diagnosis classified as “CF screen positive, inconclusive diagnosis” (CFSPID). We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence and clinical outcome of CFSPID infants diagnosed by 2 NBS algorithms in the period from 2011 to 2016 in the Tuscany region of Italy. MethodsIn 2011–2016, we assessed the diagnostic impact of DNA analysis on the NBS 4-tier algorithm [immunoreactive trypsin (IRT) – meconium lactase – IRT2 – sweat chloride (SC)]. All CFSPID patients repeated SC testing every 6 months, and CFTR gene analysis was performed (detection rate 98%). We reclassified children as: CF diagnosis in presence of at least 2 pathological SC results; healthy carrier or healthy in presence of at least 2 normal SC results for age and either 1 or 0 CF-causing mutations, respectively. ResultsWe identified 32 CF and 50 CFSPID cases: 20/50 (40%) were diagnosed only by the IRT-DNA-SC algorithm and 16/50 (32%) only by IRT-meconium lactase-IRT2-SC. Both protocols identified the remaining 14 cases (28%). Thirty-seven of 50 (74%) CFSPID patients had a conclusive diagnosis on December 31, 2017:5 (10%) CF, 17 (34%) healthy and 15 (30%) healthy carriers; 13/50 (26%) cases were asymptomatic with persistent intermediate SC and followed as CFSPID (CF:CFSPID ratio 2.85:1). ConclusionsIn 6 years, the CF:CFSPID ratio modified from 0.64:1 to 2.85:1, and 10% of CFSPID cases progressed to CF. Genetic analysis improved positive predictive value and identified a higher number of CFSPID infants progressing to CF.