Genetic testing in ectodermal dysplasia: availability, clinical utility, and the nuts and bolts of ordering a genetic test

Rare Pediatric Genetic Case Report of X-linked Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia Type 1

Ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is a rare disorder that appears differently in clinical cases and can present with a variety of combinations and severities of abnormalities that can involve a variety of tissues. The disease might appear clinically as hypotrichosis, hypohidrosis, or hypodontia, among other clinical manifestations. The patient, a five-year-old boy, was seen at the Taibah University Dental Clinic and was diagnosed with X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia type 1 based on clinical radiographic and genetic findings. Although there is no base data for reporting this case, the present case presentation could alert dental practitioners and expand scientific database knowledge on the dental and/or oral characteristics of this abnormality.

Personal utility in genomic testing: a systematic literature review

Researchers and clinicians refer to outcomes of genomic testing that extend beyond clinical utility as 'personal utility'. No systematic delineation of personal utility exists, making it challenging to appreciate its scope. Identifying empirical elements of personal utility reported in the literature offers an inventory that can be subsequently ranked for its relative value by those who have undergone genomic testing. A systematic review was conducted of the peer-reviewed literature reporting non-health-related outcomes of genomic testing from 1 January 2003 to 5 August 2016. Inclusion criteria specified English language, date of publication, and presence of empirical evidence. Identified outcomes were iteratively coded into unique domains. The search returned 551 abstracts from which 31 studies met the inclusion criteria. Study populations and type of genomic testing varied. Coding resulted in 15 distinct elements of personal utility, organized into three domains related to personal outcomes: affective, cognitive, and behavioral; and one domain related to social outcomes. The domains of personal utility may inform pre-test counseling by helping patients anticipate potential value of test results beyond clinical utility. Identified elements may also inform investigations into the prevalence and importance of personal utility to future test users.