Clinical Referrals

Nurse with syringe

Any GP, or healthcare professional can refer a patient to the Service by sending a letter of referral to the address below. The letter needs to have the following info included please:

Patient's full name, date of birth, home address, a contact phone number, NHS number, next of kin details, and your details (i.e. name, surgery address and contact number). Then teh patient can be added onto Bristol's hospital system.

It needs to be addressed to:

  • Barth Syndrome NHS Specialised Service
  • Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
  • Level 6
  • Education Centre, Upper Maudlin Street
  • Bristol, BS2 8AE

However, in order to speed things up, you can also email this letter to the service on BarthSyndromeService@uhbw.nhs.uk.

Could you perhaps be missing a case of Barth syndrome?

There is no charge for testing UK patients as this is funded by NHS Specialised Services. Please make use of the free diagnostic test if the child in question has ANY of the following symptoms.

  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Left ventricular non-compaction
  • Neutropenia
  • Weak muscles
  • Family history of a male pattern of cardiomyopathy where no genetic cause can be found

Especially if any of the above symptoms also coincide with either:

  • Developmental delay
  • Feeding and/or growth problems
  • Fatigue

Did you know?

  • Barth syndrome can behave very differently between affected children
  • 10% of affected children and adults always have normal blood neutrophil counts
  • The level of 3-methylglutaconic acid can sometimes be normal in urine
  • 3-5% of all young people with DCM may have Barth syndrome as the cause of their heart failure (This percentage may be even higher in those who are in heart failure at birth or develop it within the first year of life)

Information on Testing for Barth Syndrome

Testing for Barth syndrome in the past has so far mostly been restricted to boys with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) AND neutropenia AND excessive amounts of 3-methylglutaconic acid in their urine. However, it is increasingly clear that the disease can behave very differently between affected children, young people and adults. As just two examples: 10% of children do NOT have low blood neutrophil counts and it is well recognised that the level of 3-methylglutaconic acid can sometimes be normal in urine.

Previously, definitive testing for Barth Syndrome relied on sequencing of the responsible TAZ gene, but this is expensive and time-consuming. A more practical approach to testing  is now possible since  the development of a biochemical "cardiolipin test" which can be performed very  reliably on only a small volume of blood. The test result is usually available within one to two weeks and this is a more straightforward test than DNA sequencing (although gene testing would usually still be performed as further confirmation in someone with a positive cardiolipin test). When done on blood samples sent by first class post, cardiolipin testing discriminates extremely well between normal children and those with Barth Syndrome.

It has been estimated that between 3 and 5% of all young males with DCM may have Barth Syndrome as the cause of their heart failure. This percentage may be even higher in those who are in heart failure at birth or develop it within the first year of life. We therefore recommend routine cardiolipin testing in all young children with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Cardiolipin testing should also be considered in male babies/boys with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC), unexplained neutropenia (especially with poor growth, developmental delay or weak muscles and easy fatigue) and in families with a male pattern of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) but where no genetic cause can be found and other features suggestive of Barth Syndrome are present.

Post mortem testing

If a patient is suspected to have died as a result of Barth Syndrome, cardiolipin analysis can be performed in cultured fibroblasts (skin cells).  If fibroblasts are unavailable, please contact Vicki Powers to discuss details on 0117 342 2590 or by email at: victoria.powers@UHBristol.nhs.uk

Genetic testing by TAZ Gene Sequencing

Further information on genetic testing in Bristol, and a proforma for referral of samples are given here.

The information on this page is taken from the NHS Barth Syndrome Service site – for further details please visit Barth Syndrome Service - Testing

Testing for Barth syndrome outside of the United Kingdom

Genetic testing is available in many different countries and we suggest you visit the following sites for details: