Pancreatic function and extended mutation analysis in Delta F508 heterozygous infants with an elevated immunoreactive trypsinogen but normal sweat electrolyte levels

Background: Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) with immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) and Delta F508 analysis followed by sweat testing misses some infants with CF and detects more Delta F508 carriers than expected. So me of the apparent Delta F508 carriers may be Delta F508 compound heterozyg otes with normal sweat electrolyte levels. Methods: Infants identified by newborn screening with an elevated IRT level , one Delta F508 allele, and a sweat chloride level <60 mmol/L underwent CF mutation analysis, pancreatic stimulation testing, and repeat IRT analysis followed by clinical review and repeat sweat test at 12 months. Results: Over a 24-month period we identified 122 Delta F508 heterozygotes and recruited 57; 4 had borderline sweat chloride levels (40 to 60 mmol/L), 5 (8.8%, 95% Cl 1.4, 16.2) had a second CF mutation (R117H), and 11 (20%, 95% Cl 10, 30) had the intron 8 5T allele. Three had clinical CF at 12 mont hs (initial sweat chloride levels: 53, 51, and 32 mmol/L). Pancreatic elect rolyte secretion in the subjects with a borderline sweat chloride level was similar to that in patients with known CF. Conclusion: The excess of Delta F508 heterozygotes detected by IRT/DNA scre ening is associated with the presence of a second mutation or the 5T allele in some infants. Screened infants with borderline sweat chloride levels al most certainly have CF, but long-term follow-up of the infants with the gen otype Delta F508/R117H and Delta F508/5T is required to determine their out come. In the meantime, newborn screening should be confined to severe mutat ions associated with classic CF.