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Schut PC, Brosens E, Van Dooren TJM, Galis F, Ten Broek CMA, Baijens IMM, Dremmen MHG, Tibboel D, Schol MP, de Klein A, Eggink AJ, Cohen-Overbeek TE. Exploring copy number variants in deceased fetuses and neonates with abnormal vertebral patterns and cervical ribs. Birth Defects Res 2020; 112:1513-1525. [PMID: 32755042 PMCID: PMC7689732 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Cervical patterning abnormalities are rare in the general population, but one variant, cervical ribs, is particularly common in deceased fetuses and neonates. The discrepancy between the incidence in the general population and early mortality is likely due to indirect selection against cervical ribs. The cause for the co‐occurrence of cervical ribs and adverse outcome remains unidentified. Copy number variations resulting in gain or loss of specific genes involved in development and patterning could play a causative role. Methods Radiographs of 374 deceased fetuses and infants, including terminations of pregnancies, stillbirths and neonatal deaths, were assessed. Copy number profiles of 265 patients were determined using single nucleotide polymorphism array. Results 274/374 patients (73.3%) had an abnormal vertebral pattern, which was associated with congenital abnormalities. Cervical ribs were present in 188/374 (50.3%) and were more common in stillbirths (69/128 [53.9%]) and terminations of pregnancies (101/188 [53.7%]), compared to live births (18/58, 31.0%). Large (likely) deleterious copy number variants and aneuploidies were prevalent in these patients. None of the rare copy number variants were recurrent or overlapped with candidate genes for vertebral patterning. Conclusions The large variety of copy number variants in deceased fetuses and neonates with similar abnormalities of the vertebral pattern probably reflects the etiological heterogeneity of vertebral patterning abnormalities. This genetic heterogeneity corresponds with the hypothesis that cervical ribs can be regarded as a sign of disruption of critical, highly interactive stages of embryogenesis. The vertebral pattern can probably provide valuable information regarding fetal and neonatal outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline C Schut
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erwin Brosens
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tom J M Van Dooren
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,CNRS, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences iEES Paris, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Inge M M Baijens
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein H G Dremmen
- Department of Radiology, Division of Paediatric Radiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick Tibboel
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Center Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Martin P Schol
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annelies de Klein
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alex J Eggink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Titia E Cohen-Overbeek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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