A Bayesian Analysis to Determine the Prevalence of Barth Syndrome in the Pediatric Population

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Barth syndrome in the pediatric population.

Study design: Data were collected from the Barth Syndrome Foundation Registry and relevant literature. With the advent of genetic testing and whole-exome sequencing, a multipronged Bayesian analysis was used to estimate the prevalence of Barth syndrome based on published data on the incidence and prevalence of cardiomyopathy and neutropenia, and the respective subpopulations of patients with Barth syndrome indicated in these publications.

Results: Based on 7 published studies of cardiomyopathy and 2 published studies of neutropenia, the estimated prevalence of Barth syndrome is approximately 1 case per million male population. This contrasts with 99 cases in the Barth Syndrome Foundation Registry, 58 of which indicate a US location, and only 230-250 cases known worldwide.

Conclusions: It appears that Barth syndrome is greatly underdiagnosed. There is a need for better education and awareness of this rare disease to move toward early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Barth syndrome; cardiomyopathy; epidemiology; neutropenia; rare disease.