ATLANTA, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The March of Dimes and DHR's Division of Public Health announced today that Georgia's newborns are now being tested for Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MCADD), one of the fatty acid oxidation disorders that causes severe illness, disabilities, or even death. MCADD is a genetics test that uses the new tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) that features detection of up to 30 disorders using the same blood spot. In fact, since the screenings began on January 4, 2005, one child has already tested positive for MCADD and due to early detection, will be able to lead a normal, healthy life.
March of Dimes supports comprehensive newborn screening for all babies and established a collaborative partnership with DHR's Division of Public Health in 2001 to expand newborn screening for Georgia's newborns and specifically target the implementation of a tenth screening test, MCADD.
"The implementation of the MCADD screening test is an important victory for the March of Dimes and the state of Georgia," said Brian Ziegler, State Director, March of Dimes Georgia Chapter. "The March of Dimes policy is to support screening for specific conditions when there is a documented benefit to the child and there is a reliable test that enables early detection. We will continue our efforts to further expand newborn screening in the state of Georgia."
As a result of this targeted partnership, MCADD was added to Georgia's series of Newborn Screenings because Georgia law (OCGA 31-12-6 & 31-12-7) and Rules and Regulations (Chapter 290-5-24) now require that every live born infant have an adequate blood test for nine treatable metabolic disorders (Phenylketonuria, Congenital Hypothyroidism, Maple Syrup Urine Disease, Galactosemia, Tyrosinemia, Homocystinuria, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Biotinidase Deficiency, Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency) and for Sickle Cell disorders.
"We are pleased that DHR's Division of Public Health collaborative partnership with the March of Dimes Georgia Chapter and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has enabled Georgia law to be amended to allow the addition of MCADD to Georgia's newborn screening panel," said Rosalyn Bacon, DHR's director of maternal and child health services. "Our partners have been instrumental in advocating for funding to support the new tandem mass spectrometry equipment. They are also key players in promoting awareness of the importance of newborn screening."
MCADD is generally diagnosed between two months and two years of life, but can present as early as two days of life and as late as adulthood. Affected children are healthy and usually asymptomatic until prolonged fasting or an illness that causes them to not want to eat, like the flu, a cold, or ear infection triggers symptoms. The prolonged fasting can lead to hypoglycemia, vomiting, lethargy, seizures, coma, apnea, cardiac arrest, or sudden unexplained death. About 20-25% of these patients die from the first sick episode. MCADD is believed to account for about 1 out of 100 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths. Once this disorder is diagnosed and treatment is begun, children with MCADD can expect to live normal, healthy lives, with normal growth and development. Treatment is effective and focuses on preventing long fasts.
"MCADD was once thought to be a rare condition," said Mary Ann Henson, director of DHR's Newborn Screening for Metabolic and Sickle Cell Disorders Program. "We don't know yet the disorder's exact prevalence in Georgia, but national estimates indicate that one in every 15,000 babies may be affected, making MCADD nearly as common as PKU (Phenylketonuria), a disorder that, if not identified and treated early, causes severe irreversible mental retardation. We believe that the new MCADD test may identify nine babies a year in Georgia with the disease whose lives may be saved through early diagnosis and treatment."
To learn more about Georgia's Newborn Screening for Metabolic and Sickle Cell Disorders Program, visit http://health.state.ga.us/programs/nsmscd/ .
For the March of Dimes official policy on newborn screening, please visit http://www.marchofdimes.com/georgia .
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies.
Media Contact: Brittney Gray, Director of Communications, 404-350-9800 x 224 or bgray@marchofdimes.com
March of Dimes Georgia ChapterCONTACT: Brittney Gray, Director of Communications of March of Dimes,+1-404-350-9800, ext. 224, or bgray@marchofdimes.com