The fertility willingness and acceptability of preimplantation genetic testing in Chinese patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic kidney disorders

In recent years, advances in genetic sequencing techniques and in the analysis of sequencing data have significantly improved our ability to diagnose genetic kidney diseases. Identification of the disease-causing genetic variant(s) is crucial not only for prognostication and personalized management, but also for providing genetic counseling and guiding family planning decisions. It is particularly important that patients desiring children receive advice on their reproductive choices early, ideally before conception. This concise review focuses on the options available for prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing in the context of monogenic kidney diseases, including the latest progress and the legal and ethical issues associated with these reproductive technologies. Although these tests could be performed for all monogenic disorders where the disease-causing variant(s) has (have) been identified in the index patient, invasive prenatal testing is currently primarily performed for severe childhood-onset monogenic kidney disorders. Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis for monogenic disorders is a rapidly developing field that promises to provide an accurate and acceptable alternative to invasive procedures once several technical challenges have been addressed. Preimplantation genetic testing allows for the selection and implantation of embryos free from the disease-causing genetic variants, significantly lowering the risk of affected pregnancies. This option is becoming more popular among individuals with monogenic kidney diseases, particularly those with disorders that manifest later in life, such as autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. This review covers the procedure, its outcomes, and the technical, ethical and legal challenges of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic kidney diseases.

Gene therapy in polycystic kidney disease: A promising future

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder marked by numerous cysts in the kidneys, progressively impairing renal function. It is classified into autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD), with ADPKD being more common. Current treatments mainly focus on symptom relief and slowing disease progression, without offering a cure. Recent advancements in gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, have introduced new therapeutic possibilities for PKD. These approaches include miR-17 antisense oligonucleotides, adenovirus-mediated gene knockdown, Pkd1 gene or polycystin -1 C-terminal tail enhancement therapy, and 3-UTR miR-17 binding element by CRISPR-Cas9, which have shown potential in animal models and early clinical trials. Specifically for ARPKD, strategies like antisense oligonucleotide therapy targeting c-myc and CRISPR/ Cas9 knockdown of the P2rx7 gene have shown promise. Despite facing challenges such as technological limitations, ethical and legal issues, and high costs, gene therapy presents unprecedented hope for PKD treatment. Future interdisciplinary collaboration and international cooperation are essential for developing more effective treatment strategies for PKD patients.

Perspectives of Patients and Clinicians on Reproductive Health Care and ADPKD

Introduction

Family planning and reproductive care are essential but complex aspects of lifecycle management for individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), given the potential genetic transmission and pregnancy-related complications. In this qualitative study, we studied the experiences and perspectives of patients with ADPKD and clinicians to identify areas for potential improvement in reproductive lifecycle care.

Methods

Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in the Netherlands with patients with ADPKD, both men and women, who had children through varied reproductive choices; and clinicians, including (pediatric) nephrologists, obstetric gynecologists and geneticists. Thematic analysis, utilizing a grounded theory approach, was performed on verbatim transcriptions of recordings, followed by consensus discussions to finalize themes.

Results

Nine focus groups involving 31 participants (16 patients and 15 physicians) identified 6 key themes. These included the need for timely and comprehensive information dissemination from puberty on, understanding patient-specific decision-making factors, improving tailored psychosocial guidance and communication, the need for systematic efforts to take care of missed (minor) at-risk patients, addressing inequities in access to care, and improving multidisciplinary collaboration.

Conclusions

This study represents the first qualitative study of patient and physician perspectives on reproductive lifecycle care for ADPKD. We present valuable insights into factors influencing patients' reproductive decision-making, a comprehensive comparison between the perspectives of patients and clinicians on family planning and follow-up care of minors at risk for ADPKD, and recommendations for enhancing overall care quality. Incorporating these insights into clinical care could enhance patient-centered care and foster interdisciplinary collaborations to further improve the quality of reproductive health care services for individuals with ADPKD.

State of the Science and Ethical Considerations for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic Cystic Kidney Diseases and Ciliopathies

There is a broad phenotypic spectrum of monogenic polycystic kidney diseases (PKDs). These disorders often involve cilia-related genes and lead to the development of fluid-filled cysts and eventual kidney function decline and failure. Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic (PGT-M) disorders has moved into the clinical realm. It allows prospective parents to avoid passing on heritable diseases to their children, including monogenic PKD. The PGT-M process involves embryo generation through in vitro fertilization, with subsequent testing of embryos and selective transfer of those that do not harbor the specific disease-causing variant(s). There is a growing body of literature supporting the success of PGT-M for autosomal-dominant and autosomal-recessive PKD, although with important technical limitations in some cases. This technology can be applied to many other types of monogenic PKD and ciliopathies despite the lack of existing reports in the literature. PGT-M for monogenic PKD, like other forms of assisted reproductive technology, raises important ethical questions. When considering PGT-M for kidney diseases, as well as the potential to avoid disease in future generations, there are regulatory and ethical considerations. These include limited government regulation and unstandardized consent processes, potential technical errors, high cost and equity concerns, risks associated with pregnancy for mothers with kidney disease, and the impact on all involved in the process, including the children who were made possible with this technology.

Patient Perspectives on ADPKD

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease. It has been associated with a significant physical and psychological burden, leading to a reduced quality of life. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize the patient perspective on ADPKD based on the current published literature. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Publications reporting a patient or caregiver/relative perspective of ADPKD were included. Sources searched included Medline (PubMed), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to April 2022. This was followed by a subsequent reference and citation search. A total of 1011 articles were identified by the search process, with 28 studies included in the review. An inductive thematic analysis identified six key themes: diagnosis, monitoring, and screening; symptoms; lifestyle and dietary interventions; psychological, physical, and social impact; future planning; and interaction with the health care system. The findings of this review highlight the burden and uncertainty associated with ADPKD from a patient's perspective. This impacts patients and their caregivers/relatives at each stage of the patient's journey from screening to initiation of renal replacement therapy and future planning.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing: A Perceptual Study From the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Background: Chromosomal abnormalities affect many children which lead to high rates of morbidity and mortality among them. So, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is an evolving technology used to detect a specific genetic disorder in embryos of a couple known to be carriers or affected by a specific mutation. Similarly, it could be used in advanced maternal age which is a high risk of chromosomal abnormalities. Although PGT is a solution for many inherited chromosomal disorders, many ethical dilemmas surround its application. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the community awareness and acceptance of PGT which will eventually lead to a healthier society through disease-free babies in Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Methodology: A qualitative cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted within the population of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was designed in Arabic and distributed electronically through social media platforms.

Results: The study included 837 participants, whose ages ranged from 18 to 65 years with the mean age 33.5 ± 11.9 years. Good awareness and acceptance were detected among 53.7% of the old aged group (50 years or more) compared to 39.5% of the young age group. Also, 44.9% of female participants had good awareness in comparison to 34.2% of males (p=.033). Participants with a higher number of children had significantly higher awareness and acceptance of PGT. Also, 44.3% of participants who knew someone in need of assisted reproductive technology, had good awareness and acceptance levels compared to 36.9% of those who did not (p=.033).

Conclusion: The perception of Eastern Province’s Saudi citizens toward PGT is found to be low. Increasing their perception toward such technology is needed as it is known that many chromosomal abnormalities are prevalent among this population, particularly sickle cell disease. Achieving this goal will eventually lead to decrease the burden of prevalent inherited diseases. Since Saudis' opinions are almost influenced by cultural and religious points of view, care should be given to these aspects.