Galactosemia (GALT) Enzyme Activity and 9 Mutations

One U/g Hb is equivalent to one umol/hour/gram of hemoglobin (umol/hr/g Hb).

Background Information for Galactosemia (GALT) Enzyme Activity and 9 Mutations:
Characteristics: Affected infants present at 3-14 days old with poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, lethargy progressing to coma, and abdominal distension with hepatomegaly usually followed by progressive liver failure. Patients with galactosemia are also at increased risk for E. coli or other gram-negative neonatal sepsis. Diagnosis is made by measuring GALT enzyme activity in red blood cells.
Incidence: Approximately 1 in 30,000 to 60,000 of classic galactosemia in Caucasian, varies in other populations.
Inheritance: Autosomal recessive
Penetrance: 100 percent for severe GALT mutations
Cause: Mutations in the GALT gene.
Mutations Tested: Seven GALT gene mutations (Q188R, S135L, K285N, T138M, L195P, Y209C, and IVS2-2 A>G) and two variants (N314D and L218L).
Clinical Sensitivity DNA: Approaches 80 percent in Caucasians but reduced in other ethnic groups.
Methodology DNA: Polymerase chain reaction followed by single nucleotide extension (SNE) and capillary electrophoresis.
Analytical Sensitivity DNA: 99 percent for mutations listed.
Limitations DNA: GALT gene mutations, other than the 9 targeted, will not be detected. Diagnostic errors can occur due to rare sequence variations.
Methodology Enzymatic: Spectrophotometric quantitation of enzyme activity in red blood cells.

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by ARUP Laboratories. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. This test was performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and is intended for clinical purposes.

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