Screening for inborn errors of metabolism using automated electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: study in high-risk Indian population.
OBJECTIVE
Tandem mass spectrometry is a major technological advance in the screening for inborn errors of metabolism. It has the advantage of sensitive and simultaneous multiple disease screening with minimal sample requirement. The diseases detected include aminoacidemias, fatty acid oxidation disorders, and organic acidemias.


METHODS
Using automated electrospray tandem mass spectrometry we screened 3550, clinically selected, symptomatic children for inborn errors of metabolism by analyzing amino acids and acylcarnitines in dried blood filter-paper samples.


RESULTS
Among these, 113 (3.2%) children were identified with a metabolic disorder: 61 (54%) patients had amino acid disorders, 47 (41.6%) had organic acidemias, and 5 (4.4%) children had disorders of fatty acid oxidation. The diagnoses were further confirmed through clinical symptoms, and other biochemical studies.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that inherited metabolic disorders are not rare in India, a rapidly developing country with a high birth rate and relatively frequent occurrence of consanguineous marriages.
Nagaraja
Dindagur
D
Department of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Post Bag 2900, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560029, India. dnn@nimhans.kar.nic.in
Mamatha
Sopanahalli Narasimhamurthy
SN
De
Tanima
T
Christopher
Rita
R
D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011153:Population; D012307:Risk Factors; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods