Rapid Identification of Biallelic SPTB Mutation in a Neonate with Severe Congenital Hemolytic Anemia and Liver Failure

• Published in: Molecular syndromology Vol. 11; no. 1; pp. 50 - 55
• Main Authors: Richmond, Christopher M., Campbell, Sally, Foo, Hee W., Lunke, Sebastian, Stark, Zornitza, Moody, Amanda, Bannister, Elizabeth, Greenway, Anthea, Brown, Natasha
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.02.2020
• Subjects: Novel Insights from Clinical Practice; Medical genomics; Red cell membrane defects; Rapid exome sequencing; Red cells; Hereditary spherocytosis
• ISSN: 1661-8769; 1661-8777
• DOI: 10.1159/000505886

Heterozygous pathogenic variants in SPTB cause autosomal dominant hereditary spherocytosis, an important cause of neonatal nonimmune hemolytic anemia. Biallelic mutations are rarely reported, all with severe neonatal presentation. We describe rapid (68 h) genomic diagnosis of homozygous β-spectrin deficiency in a newborn with severe transfusion-dependent hemolytic anemia, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and progressive liver failure. Trio whole-exome sequencing identified a novel biallelic SPTB variant (c.6119C>T; p.Thr2040Ile) located in the critical spectrin repeat region. Pretransfusion blood film showed marked spherocytosis including microspherocytes and nucleated erythrocytes, and eosin-5-maleimide (E5M) staining was markedly reduced, supporting pathogenicity. Both asymptomatic heterozygous parents demonstrated mildly reduced E5M staining, with occasional spherocytes and elliptocytes. Early molecular diagnosis facilitated hypertransfusion to suppress ineffective erythropoiesis and reverse hepatic dysfunction. This report broadens the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of spectrin deficiency and highlights the utility of rapid genomic testing in facilitating early diagnosis and informing targeted therapy in critically ill patients.