Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42919323›Full record

ArticleOrphanet journal of rare diseases2026

Developing a rare disease registry for inherited metabolic disorders in Pakistan.

Lena Jafri, Hafsa Majid, Sibtain Ahmed, Azeema Jamil, Saba Abdul Mateen, Akhtar Shah, Aysha Habib Khan

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Article in Orphanet journal of rare diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Lena JafriSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. lena.jafri@aku.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6807-5429
Hafsa MajidSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7506-7988
Sibtain AhmedSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0316-2622
Azeema JamilSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Saba Abdul MateenSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Akhtar ShahSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Aysha Habib KhanSection of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7693-5740

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) underrecognized and underreported in Pakistan because of fragmented data systems, limited surveillance, and constrained diagnostic resources. We aimed to establish a continuous registry for IMDs to generate structured epidemiological, clinical, and biochemical data in a genetically heterogeneous population with high rates of consanguinity.

methodsA single-center rare disease registry for IMDs was developed at the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan, and implemented between 2024 and March 2026 using retrospective consolidation of cases from January 2013 onward, followed by prospective real-time data capture. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data were collected through structured case report forms and linked laboratory records. Registry performance was monitored using predefined indicators, including case volume, number of diagnostic categories, and data quality assessed through three audit cycles, 12 staff training rounds, and source verification procedures.

resultsThe registry included 3,880 unique cases from January 2013 to March 2026 and documented 59 distinct IMDs across all four provinces of Pakistan. Parental consanguinity was reported in 66.5% of cases (n = 2,584). The most frequently identified disorders were methylmalonic aciduria (n = 555), biotinidase deficiency (n = 287), and urea cycle disorders (n = 218). The final data dictionary comprised 14 categories and 384 common data elements. Quality control measures, including 12 training rounds and periodic audits, improved data accuracy and completeness from 60% to 96% to enable successful registry integration. Piloting data collection tools achieved > 90% completeness in demographic and clinical fields.

conclusionThis first registry for IMDs in Pakistan provides a structured, quality-assured epidemiological resource for defining the burden and spectrum of these disorders. The registry establishes a foundation for improved diagnosis, service planning, policy development, and future multicenter rare disease research. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Metabolic DiseasesMetabolism, Inborn ErrorsRare DiseasesRegistriesConsanguinityFemaleHumansPakistanAmino acidsInherited metabolic disordersOrganic acidsRareRegistry

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.