RDDR: a dysmorphology diagnostic network for newborns in central Italy

Abstract

In 2011, the RDDR network was developed in central Italy to provide support in the diagnosis of dysmorphic newborns. RDDR has been developed as an online electronic system that currently links 20 neonatology centres in central Italy, representing the submitting nodes that transmit patient clinical histories and the relevant photographical documentation to the software, which is password-protected. Accepted cases appropriate for the RDDR are reviewed by the RDDR’s dysmorphology experts who, through a forum section, provide diagnostic suggestions and recommendations for further investigation and patient management. Their remarks are summarised in clinical expert reports and sent to the submitting nodes. The results of the first 22 submitted cases are reviewed in this paper. The RDDR was developed on the basis of a related European tool, Dyscerne, a network of centres of expertise for dysmorphology.

Keywords::

• RDDR
• dysmorphology
• dysmorphic newborns

Acknowledgments

“RDDR: Rete Diagnostica Dismorfologica Regionale. Network per la diagnosi di difetti congeniti e delle sindromi dismorfiche neonatali” (RC2011, MLD) is a project resulting from a partnership between three existing centres of expertise in dysmorphology from Rome: Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, University La Sapienza and University La Cattolica. Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital is the coordinating partner for the project. This study was supported by a grant from the Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Corrente 2011.

Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.