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Busse E, Lee B, Nagamani SCS. Genetic Evaluation for Monogenic Disorders of Low Bone Mass and Increased Bone Fragility: What Clinicians Need to Know. Curr Osteoporos Rep 2024; 22:308-317. [PMID: 38600318 DOI: 10.1007/s11914-024-00870-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to outline the principles of clinical genetic testing and to provide practical guidance to clinicians in navigating genetic testing for patients with suspected monogenic forms of osteoporosis. RECENT FINDINGS Heritability assessments and genome-wide association studies have clearly shown the significant contributions of genetic variations to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Currently, over 50 monogenic disorders that present primarily with low bone mass and increased risk of fractures have been described. The widespread availability of clinical genetic testing offers a valuable opportunity to correctly diagnose individuals with monogenic forms of osteoporosis, thus instituting appropriate surveillance and treatment. Clinical genetic testing may identify the appropriate diagnosis in a subset of patients with low bone mass, multiple or unusual fractures, and severe or early-onset osteoporosis, and thus clinicians should be aware of how to incorporate such testing into their clinical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Busse
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brendan Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Sandesh C S Nagamani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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Ellard H, Clarke A, Wynn S, Pichini A, Lewis C. Written communication of whole genome sequencing results in the NHS Genomic Medicine Service: a multi-centre service evaluation. Eur J Hum Genet 2024:10.1038/s41431-024-01636-5. [PMID: 38806663 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01636-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is being used in diagnostic testing for certain clinical indications within the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) in England. Letter writing is an integral part of delivering results. However, no national guidelines for writing results from WGS exist. This multi-centre service evaluation used mixed methods to understand the content and readability of letters returning diagnostic, variant of uncertain significance (VUS), and no-finding results to paediatric rare disease patients. Eight Regional Genetics Services (response rate 47%) in England provided a total of 37 letters returning diagnostic (n = 13), VUS (n = 10), and no-finding (n = 14) results. Diagnostic and VUS results were usually delivered during an appointment; no-finding results were typically delivered by letter only. Letters were diverse in which content topics they covered and level of detail. No-finding letters (14/14) explained the result but were less likely to cover other topics. Diagnostic letters discussed the result (13/13), the condition (13/13), clinical genetics follow-up (13/13), clinical management (10/13), and adapting to the result (9/13). VUS letters explained the result (10/10), diagnostic uncertainty (10/10), and clinical genetics follow-up (10/10). Uncertainty was a common component of letters (33/37), irrespective of the result. Reanalysis or review after one or more years was suggested in 6/13 diagnostic, 7/10 VUS, and 6/14 no-finding letters. The mean reading level of letters corresponded to 15-17 years. Understanding how WGS results are conveyed to families during appointments, as well as how families interpret that information, is needed to provide a more comprehensive overview of results communication and inform best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Ellard
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
| | - Angus Clarke
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Sarah Wynn
- Unique, Rare Chromosome Support Group, Oxted, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Celine Lewis
- School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
- Population, Policy and Practice Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- NHS North Thames Genomic Laboratory Hub, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Skrypnyk C, AlHarmi R. Molecular autopsy by proxy: relevance for genetic counseling in rare genetic disorders. Front Genet 2024; 15:1400295. [PMID: 38859940 PMCID: PMC11163115 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1400295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Rare genetic disorders may result in death before a definitive clinical diagnosis is established. Aim This study aims to outline the processes and challenges in managing, from a genetic perspective, couples who lost children affected by rare genetic disorders. Results Six couples who experienced child loss due to rare genetic disorders, seen by the primary author at genetic evaluation and counseling sessions, were retrospectively analyzed. Four out of 6 couples reported consanguinity. Exome and genome sequencing were performed for the parents. Carrier status of two rare lethal metabolic disorders was confirmed in one consanguineous couple. Three couples were carriers of 3 other rare diseases. Variants of LYST, MPV17, HEXB, ITGB4, CD3E, ASPM, TK2, COL11A2, and LAMB3 genes were identified. Six out of 10 were pathogenic variants, out of which 4 correlated with the demised children's phenotypes. One couple was negative for pathogenic variants. The last couple did not undergo genetic testing since they were beyond the fertile window. Conclusion Appropriate parental genetic evaluation and counseling are mandatory for selecting the right genetic test to certify the diagnosis postmortem, by virtue of molecular autopsy by proxy. Clarifying a rare disorder diagnosis can help couples to avoid recurrence and plan early for their next pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Skrypnyk
- Assistant Professor, Molecular Genetics, Princess Al-Jawhara Al-Ibrahim Center for Molecular Medicine, Genetics, and Inherited Disorders and Molecular Medicine Department, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
- Consultant Medical Geneticist, University Medical Clinics, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Rawan AlHarmi
- Research Associate, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
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Olivucci G, Iovino E, Innella G, Turchetti D, Pippucci T, Magini P. Long read sequencing on its way to the routine diagnostics of genetic diseases. Front Genet 2024; 15:1374860. [PMID: 38510277 PMCID: PMC10951082 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1374860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The clinical application of technological progress in the identification of DNA alterations has always led to improvements of diagnostic yields in genetic medicine. At chromosome side, from cytogenetic techniques evaluating number and gross structural defects to genomic microarrays detecting cryptic copy number variants, and at molecular level, from Sanger method studying the nucleotide sequence of single genes to the high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, resolution and sensitivity progressively increased expanding considerably the range of detectable DNA anomalies and alongside of Mendelian disorders with known genetic causes. However, particular genomic regions (i.e., repetitive and GC-rich sequences) are inefficiently analyzed by standard genetic tests, still relying on laborious, time-consuming and low-sensitive approaches (i.e., southern-blot for repeat expansion or long-PCR for genes with highly homologous pseudogenes), accounting for at least part of the patients with undiagnosed genetic disorders. Third generation sequencing, generating long reads with improved mappability, is more suitable for the detection of structural alterations and defects in hardly accessible genomic regions. Although recently implemented and not yet clinically available, long read sequencing (LRS) technologies have already shown their potential in genetic medicine research that might greatly impact on diagnostic yield and reporting times, through their translation to clinical settings. The main investigated LRS application concerns the identification of structural variants and repeat expansions, probably because techniques for their detection have not evolved as rapidly as those dedicated to single nucleotide variants (SNV) identification: gold standard analyses are karyotyping and microarrays for balanced and unbalanced chromosome rearrangements, respectively, and southern blot and repeat-primed PCR for the amplification and sizing of expanded alleles, impaired by limited resolution and sensitivity that have not been significantly improved by the advent of NGS. Nevertheless, more recently, with the increased accuracy provided by the latest product releases, LRS has been tested also for SNV detection, especially in genes with highly homologous pseudogenes and for haplotype reconstruction to assess the parental origin of alleles with de novo pathogenic variants. We provide a review of relevant recent scientific papers exploring LRS potential in the diagnosis of genetic diseases and its potential future applications in routine genetic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Olivucci
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Emanuela Iovino
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Innella
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Turchetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pippucci
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pamela Magini
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Seither K, Thompson W, Suhrie K. A Practical Guide to Whole Genome Sequencing in the NICU. Neoreviews 2024; 25:e139-e150. [PMID: 38425198 DOI: 10.1542/neo.25-3-e139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The neonatal period is a peak time for the presentation of genetic disorders that can be diagnosed using whole genome sequencing (WGS). While any one genetic disorder is individually rare, they collectively contribute to significant morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs. As the cost of WGS continues to decline and becomes increasingly available, the ordering of rapid WGS for NICU patients with signs or symptoms of an underlying genetic condition is now feasible. However, many neonatal clinicians are not comfortable with the testing, and unfortunately, there is a dearth of geneticists to facilitate testing for every patient that needs it. Here, we will review the science behind WGS, diagnostic capabilities, limitations of testing, time to consider testing, test initiation, interpretation of results, developing a plan of care that incorporates genomic information, and returning WGS results to families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Seither
- Division of Neonatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, and the Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Whitney Thompson
- Division of Neonatal Medicine, and the Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Kristen Suhrie
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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Cornelis C, Tibben A, Brilstra E, Bolt I, van Summeren M, Knoers N, Bredenoord AL. Hope, but never expect? Comparing parents' pre- and post-disclosure attitudes toward return of results from diagnostic exome sequencing for their child. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2024; 12:e2341. [PMID: 38366804 PMCID: PMC10958177 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Counseling for whole-exome sequencing (WES) could benefit from aligning parents' pre- and post-disclosure attitudes. A few studies have qualitatively compared parents' pre- and post-disclosure attitudes toward receiving WES results for their child in a diagnostic setting. This study explored these attitudes in the context of children with a developmental delay. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents (n = 27) of 16 children undergoing diagnostic WES in trio-analysis, both before and after receiving results. RESULTS Three key insights emerged. First, the distinction between hoping and expecting was relevant for shaping parents' experiences with receiving results related to the primary indication. Second, parents of young children whose development of autonomous capacities was uncertain sometimes found themselves in a situation resembling a Catch-22 when confronted with decisions about unsolicited findings (UFs): an important reason for consenting to WES was to gain a better picture of how the child might develop, but in order to make responsible choices about UFs, some ideas of their child's development is needed. Third, default opt-ins and opt-outs helped parents fathom new kinds of considerations for accepting or declining UFs in different categories, thereby aiding decision-making. CONCLUSION Results from this study are relevant for counseling and policy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Cornelis
- Department of GeneticsUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius CenterUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Aad Tibben
- Department of Clinical GeneticsLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Eva Brilstra
- Department of GeneticsUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Ineke Bolt
- Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History of MedicineErasmus Medical CenterRotterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Marieke van Summeren
- Department of General PediatricsUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Nine Knoers
- Department of GeneticsUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Department of GeneticsUniversity Medical Centre GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Annelien L. Bredenoord
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius CenterUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Erasmus School of PhilosophyErasmus University RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands
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Nurchis MC, Radio FC, Salmasi L, Heidar Alizadeh A, Raspolini GM, Altamura G, Tartaglia M, Dallapiccola B, Pizzo E, Gianino MM, Damiani G. Cost-Effectiveness of Whole-Genome vs Whole-Exome Sequencing Among Children With Suspected Genetic Disorders. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2353514. [PMID: 38277144 PMCID: PMC10818217 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.53514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance The diagnosis of rare diseases and other genetic conditions can be daunting due to vague or poorly defined clinical features that are not recognized even by experienced clinicians. Next-generation sequencing technologies, such as whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and whole-exome sequencing (WES), have greatly enhanced the diagnosis of genetic diseases by expanding the ability to sequence a large part of the genome, rendering a cost-effectiveness comparison between them necessary. Objective To assess the cost-effectiveness of WGS compared with WES and conventional testing in children with suspected genetic disorders. Design, Setting, and Participants In this economic evaluation, a bayesian Markov model was implemented from January 1 to June 30, 2023. The model was developed using data from a cohort of 870 pediatric patients with suspected genetic disorders who were enrolled and underwent testing in the Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy, from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2022. The robustness of the model was assessed through probabilistic sensitivity analysis and value of information analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall costs, number of definitive diagnoses, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios per diagnosis were measured. The cost-effectiveness analyses involved 4 comparisons: first-tier WGS with standard of care; first-tier WGS with first-tier WES; first-tier WGS with second-tier WES; and first-tier WGS with second-tier WGS. Results The ages of the 870 participants ranged from 0 to 18 years (539 [62%] girls). The results of the analysis suggested that adopting WGS as a first-tier strategy would be cost-effective compared with all other explored options. For all threshold levels above €29 800 (US $32 408) per diagnosis that were tested up to €50 000 (US $54 375) per diagnosis, first-line WGS vs second-line WES strategy (ie, 54.6%) had the highest probability of being cost-effective, followed by first-line vs second-line WGS (ie, 54.3%), first-line WGS vs the standard of care alternative (ie, 53.2%), and first-line WGS vs first-line WES (ie, 51.1%). Based on sensitivity analyses, these estimates remained robust to assumptions and parameter uncertainty. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this economic evaluation encourage the development of policy changes at various levels (ie, macro, meso, and micro) of international health systems to ensure an efficient adoption of WGS in clinical practice and its equitable access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Cesare Nurchis
- School of Economics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Luca Salmasi
- Department of Economics and Finance, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurora Heidar Alizadeh
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Raspolini
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerardo Altamura
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Dallapiccola
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Pizzo
- Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Michela Gianino
- Department of Public Health Sciences and Paediatrics, Università di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Damiani
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Sullivan JA, Spillmann RC, Schoch K, Walley N, Alkelai A, Stong N, Shea PR, Petrovski S, Jobanputra V, McConkie-Rosell A, Shashi V. The best of both worlds: Blending cutting-edge research with clinical processes for a productive exome clinic. Clin Genet 2024; 105:62-71. [PMID: 37853563 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Genomic medicine has been transformed by next-generation sequencing (NGS), inclusive of exome sequencing (ES) and genome sequencing (GS). Currently, ES is offered widely in clinical settings, with a less prevalent alternative model consisting of hybrid programs that incorporate research ES along with clinical patient workflows. We were among the earliest to implement a hybrid ES clinic, have provided diagnoses to 45% of probands, and have identified several novel candidate genes. Our program is enabled by a cost-effective investment by the health system and is unique in encompassing all the processes that have been variably included in other hybrid/clinical programs. These include careful patient selection, utilization of a phenotype-agnostic bioinformatics pipeline followed by manual curation of variants and phenotype integration by clinicians, close collaborations between the clinicians and the bioinformatician, pursuit of interesting variants, communication of results to patients in categories that are predicated upon the certainty of a diagnosis, and tracking changes in results over time and the underlying mechanisms for such changes. Due to its effectiveness, scalability to GS and its resource efficiency, specific elements of our paradigm can be incorporated into existing clinical settings, or the entire hybrid model can be implemented within health systems that have genomic medicine programs, to provide NGS in a scientifically rigorous, yet pragmatic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Sullivan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca C Spillmann
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelly Schoch
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole Walley
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anna Alkelai
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Regeneron Genetics Center, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Stong
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Predictive Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Summit, New Jersey, USA
| | - Patrick R Shea
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Analysis Resource, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Slavè Petrovski
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vaidehi Jobanputra
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Allyn McConkie-Rosell
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vandana Shashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Cornelis C, Dondorp W, Bolt I, de Wert G, van Summeren M, Brilstra E, Knoers N, Bredenoord AL. Uncertain futures and unsolicited findings in pediatric genomic sequencing: guidelines for return of results in cases of developmental delay. BMC Med Ethics 2023; 24:98. [PMID: 37951889 PMCID: PMC10640744 DOI: 10.1186/s12910-023-00977-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Massively parallel sequencing techniques, such as whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), may reveal unsolicited findings (UFs) unrelated to the diagnostic aim. Such techniques are frequently used for diagnostic purposes in pediatric cases of developmental delay (DD). Yet policy guidelines for informed consent and return of UFs are not well equipped to address specific moral challenges that may arise in these children's situations. DISCUSSION In previous empirical studies conducted by our research group, we found that it is sometimes uncertain how children with a DD will develop and whether they could come to possess capacities for autonomous decision-making in the future. Parents sometimes felt this brought them into a Catch-22 like situation when confronted with choices about UFs before undergoing WES in trio-analysis (both the parents' and child's DNA are sequenced). An important reason for choosing to consent to WES was to gain more insight into how their child might develop. However, to make responsible choices about receiving or declining knowledge of UFs, some idea of their child's future development of autonomous capacities is needed. This undesirable Catch-22 situation was created by the specific policy configuration in which parents were required to make choices about UFs before being sequencing (trio-analysis). We argue that this finding is relevant for reconfiguring current policies for return of UFs for WES/WGS and propose guidelines that encompass two features. First, the informed consent process ought to be staged. Second, differing guidelines are required for withholding/disclosing a UF in cases of DD appropriate to the level of confidence there is about the child's future developmental of autonomous capacities. CONCLUSION When combined with a dynamic consent procedure, these two features of our guidelines could help overcome significant moral challenges that present themselves in the situations of children undergoing genomic sequencing for clarifying a DD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Cornelis
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Julius Center, Department of Medical Humanities, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Wybo Dondorp
- Department of Health, Ethics & Society, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ineke Bolt
- Department of Medical Ethics, Philosophy and History of Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Guido de Wert
- Department of Health, Ethics & Society, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke van Summeren
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Brilstra
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nine Knoers
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Annelien L Bredenoord
- Julius Center, Department of Medical Humanities, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Philosophy, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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