[Evaluation of systematic neonatal screening for sickle cell diseases in Madrid three years after its introduction]. / Evaluación en el tercer año de implantación del cribado neonatal universal de anemia falciforme en la Comunidad de Madrid.

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease which, as a result of migration, constitutes one of the most frequent genetic disorders in northwest Europe. Complications secondary to this disease are common during the first 3 years of life and early diagnosis has been recommended to reduce their development. The autonomous community of Madrid began to perform universal neonatal screening for hemoglobinopathies in May 2003. This study presents the results of the first 32 months of this screening program. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive study was designed to include all the neonates born in centers in the autonomous community of Madrid from May 2003 to December 2005. A heel prick dried blood spot from the Guthrie card was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography to detect hemoglobin F, A, S, C, D and E. RESULTS: A total of 190,238 newborns were analyzed, and 1060 hemoglobin variants (5.57 for every 1000 births) were detected. Thirty-one were sickle cell diseases and appropriate antibiotics, vaccination and comprehensive care were initiated. Prenatal diagnosis of subsequent pregnancies was performed in three families after parental investigation. Carrier parents were from 44 countries of origin. CONCLUSIONS: Although sickle cell disease was considered anecdotic in Spain until recently, the diagnosis of this entity has markedly increased as a result of immigration. The universal screening program is expected to reduce morbidity and mortality in the first years of life.