Partial trisomy 7q and monosomy 13q in a child with disorder of sex development: phenotypic and genotypic findings

The challenges in the interpretation of genetic variants detected by genomics techniques in patients with congenital anomalies

BACKGROUND

Despite the efforts that have been made to standardize the interpretation of variants, in some cases, their pathogenicity remains vague and confusing, and sometimes their interpretation does not help clinicians to establish clinical correlation using genetic test results. This study aims to shed more lights on these challenging variants.

METHODS

In a clinical setting, the variants found from 81 array CGH and 79 whole exome sequencing (WES) in patients with congenital anomalies were interpreted based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.

RESULTS

In this study, the interpretation of the disease-causing variants and the variants with uncertain clinical significance detected by WES was far more challenging than the variants detected by array CGH. The presence of unreported clinical symptoms, incomplete penetrance, variable expressivity, parents' reluctance to analyze segregation in the family, and the limitations of prenatal tests, were among the challenging factors in the interpretation of variants in this study.

CONCLUSION

A careful study of the pedigree and disease mode of inheritance, as well as a careful clinical examination of the carrier parents in diseases with autosomal dominant inheritance, are among the primary strategies for determining the clinical significance of the variants. Continued efforts to mitigate these challenges are needed to improve the interpretation of variants.

Double Segment Chromosomal Imbalance due to Inherited Chromosomal Translocation: Detection by Cytogenetic Microarray

BACKGROUND

Balanced translocations are common with the incidence of 1 in 500.

CASE CHARACTERISTICS

Two cousins with intellectual disability with family history of holoprosencephaly.

RESULTS

Microarray showed gain on chromosome 7 and loss on chromosome 11 and vice versa in the other cousin.

CONCLUSION

We highlight the importance of detailed family history, pedigree analysis, and utility of microarray.

Chromosome 13q deletion syndrome involving 13q31‑qter: A case report

Partial deletions on the long arm of chromosome 13 lead to a number of different phenotypes depending on the size and position of the deleted region. The present study investigated 2 patients with 13q terminal (13qter) deletion syndrome, which manifested as anal atresia with rectoperineal fistula, complex type congenital heart disease, esophageal hiatus hernia with gastroesophageal reflux, facial anomalies and developmental and mental retardation. Array comparative genomic hybridization identified 2 regions of deletion on chromosome 13q31‑qter; 20.38 Mb in 13q31.3‑qter and 12.99 Mb in 13q33.1‑qter in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Comparisons between the results observed in the present study and those obtained from patients in previous studies indicate that the gene encoding ephrin B2 (EFNB2) located in the 13q33.3‑q34 region, and the gene coding for endothelin receptor type B, in the 13q22.1‑31.3 region, may be suitable candidate genes for the observed urogenital/anorectal anomalies. In addition, the microRNA‑17‑92a‑1 cluster host gene and the glypican 6 gene in the 13q31.3 region, as well as EFNB2 and the collagen type IV a1 chain (COL4A1) and COL4A2 genes in the 13q33.1‑q34 region may together contribute to cardiovascular disease development. It is therefore possible that these genes may be involved in the pathogenesis of complex type congenital heart disease in patients with 13q deletion syndrome.

Deletion 21q22.3 and duplication 7q35q36.3 in a Colombian girl: a case report

BACKGROUND

Genetic disorders are a major cause in the etiology of cases with intellectual disability; however, analysis by a conventional technique such as cytogenetic karyotyping only allows the detection of chromosomal alterations in approximately 9.5 % of cases. The inclusion of new technologies such as high resolution microarray analysis has allowed the study of alterations in chromosomal segments that are less than 5 Mb in length; this has led to an increase in the diagnosis of these patients of up to 25 %.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the first case of an 8-year-old Colombian girl of mixed race ancestry (Mestizo), with clinical features that include: delayed psychomotor and language development, intellectual disability, upward slanting palpebral fissures, divergent strabismus, low-set and rotated ears, tall and broad nasal bridge, flat philtrum, bifid uvula, posterior cleft palate, increased anteroposterior diameter of her chest, congenital heart defect type interventricular communication, scoliosis, and umbilical hernia. Genetic analysis was performed using comparative genomic hybridization array, which evidenced the deletion of a region of approximately 3.608 Mb on chromosome 21q22.3, and a duplication of 12.326 Mb on chromosome 7q35q36.3, these alterations affect approximately 112 and 186 genes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

To date, this is the first report of an associated terminal deletion of 21q and 7q duplication in a patient with delayed psychomotor development and intellectual disability. We consider that future implementation of exome and RNA sequencing techniques, and analysis of their proteomic expression in a clinical context could lead to better analysis and interpretation of the genotype-phenotype correlation in cases similar to that described.

Genomic characterization of some Iranian children with idiopathic mental retardation using array comparative genomic hybridization

BACKGROUND

Mental retardation (MR) has a prevalence of 1-3% and genetic causes are present in more than 50% of patients. Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the most common genetic causes of MR and are responsible for 4-28% of mental retardation. However, the smallest loss or gain of material visible by standard cytogenetic is about 4 Mb and for smaller abnormalities, molecular cytogenetic techniques such as array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) should be used. It has been shown that 15-25% of idiopathic MR (IMR) has submicroscopic rearrangements detectable by array CGH. In this project, the genomic abnormalities were investigated in 32 MR patients using this technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with IMR with dysmorphism were investigated in this study. Karyotype analysis, fragile X and metabolic tests were first carried out on the patients. The copy number variation was then assessed in a total of 32 patients with normal results for the mentioned tests using whole genome oligo array CGH. Multiple ligation probe amplification was carried out as a confirmation test.

RESULTS

In total, 19% of the patients showed genomic abnormalities. This is reduced to 12.5% once the two patients with abnormal karyotypes (upon re-evaluation) are removed.

CONCLUSION

The array CGH technique increased the detection rate of genomic imbalances in our patients by 12.5%. It is an accurate and reliable method for the determination of genomic imbalances in patients with IMR and dysmorphism.