Increase in Sweat Chloride Concentration Is Associated with a Higher
Risk of CFSPID to CF Reclassification
Abstract
Objectives: Universal implementation of cystic fibrosis (CF)
newborn screening (NBS) has led to the diagnostic dilemma of infants
with CF screen positive, inconclusive diagnosis (CFSPID), for which
there is limited guidance regarding prognosis and standardized care.
Rates of reclassification from CFSPID to CF vary and risk factors for
reclassification are unknown. We investigated whether clinical
characteristics are associated with risk of reclassification from CFSPID
to a CF diagnosis. Methods: Children with a positive CF NBS
were recruited from two sites in California. Retrospective,
longitudinal, and cross-sectional data were collected. A subset of
subjects had nasal epithelial cells collected for CFTR functional
assessment. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk
of CFSPID-to-CF reclassification. Results: A total of 112
children completed the study (CF=53, CFSPID=59). Phenotypic
characteristics between groups showed differences in pancreatic
insufficiency prevalence, immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) levels, and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) colonization. Spirometry measures
were not different between groups. Nasal epithelial cells from 10
subjects showed 7-30% of wild type (WT)-CFTR function in those who
reclassified and 27-67% of WT-CFTR function in those who retained the
CFSPID designation. Modeling revealed that increasing sweat chloride
concentration (sw[Cl -]) and PSA colonization were
independent risk factors for reclassification to CF.
Conclusion: Increasing sw[Cl -] and
history of PSA colonization are associated with risk of reclassification
from CFSPID to CF in a population with high IRT and two CFTR
variants. Close follow-up to monitor phenotypic changes remains critical
in this population. The role of CFTR functional assays in this
population requires further exploration.