Status of Newborn Screening and Inborn Errors of Metabolism in India

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders that cause significant neonatal and infant mortality. Expanded newborn screening which detects these disorders at birth is the standard preventive strategy in most countries. Prospective studies to evaluate the impact of these in the Indian population are lacking. The imminent need to address this lacuna warrants a review of available pan India data, as well as efforts for a carefully conducted prospective assessment of the burden of IEM. Published data on IEM in the Indian population comprising universal prospective screening and screening in selected subgroups (patients admitted to pediatric/neonatal ICUs, patients with developmental delay/mental retardation) was collected through a systematic search. The primary focus was to get an estimate of the disease burden in the Indian population. A true prevalence of IEM in India is not available. The systematic review identifies and stratifies the various situations where IEM are found. Data collected by universal screening of the low risk population is essential to identify the true prevalence of IEM in India.