{"title":"Prenatal exome sequencing for the morphologically normal fetus: Should we be doing it?","authors":"Zhi Gao, Xiaofan Zhu, Huanan Ren, Yanfei Wang, Chunxiao Hua, Xiangdong Kong","doi":"10.1002/pd.6624","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to investigate the yield of prenatal exome sequencing (pES) in morphologically normal fetuses.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This retrospective study analyzed 254 families with morphologically normal fetuses who underwent prenatal trio exome sequencing based on parental request between September 2020 and October 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, abnormal findings were detected in 8 families (3.1%, 8/254) by pES. Among these, 6 families (2.3%, 6/254) were found to have fetuses affected with monogenic disorders (2 autosomal recessive conditions and 4 autosomal dominant conditions), while 2 families (0.8%, 2/254) were incidentally found to be couples at risk of having a future pregnancy with a recessive condition. Among the six fetuses detected with monogenic disorders, two fetuses carried a de novo variant in OPA1 and NF1, which are known to cause Optic atrophy 1 and Neurofibromatosis, respectively. One fetus was detected with a maternally inherited variant in PKD2 related to polycystic kidney disease 2 (not known to the mother until then). One fetus was detected with a maternally inherited variant in SDHB associated with Pheochromocytoma. Two fetuses carried compound heterozygous variants in NAGLU and GJB2 associated with Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB and Deafness, respectively. In the 2 families where parents were found to be carriers but the fetuses were unaffected, heterozygous variants in the GJB2 and SERPINB7 genes were detected in the parents, respectively, which are associated with deafness and palmoplantar keratoderma.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our research indicated that pES can provide significant critical information for families with morphologically normal fetuses. Prenatal screening with exome sequencing requires careful management and detailed pre-test and post-test genetic counseling.</p>","PeriodicalId":20387,"journal":{"name":"Prenatal Diagnosis","volume":" ","pages":"287-293"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Prenatal Diagnosis","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/pd.6624","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/6/11 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: We aimed to investigate the yield of prenatal exome sequencing (pES) in morphologically normal fetuses.
Method: This retrospective study analyzed 254 families with morphologically normal fetuses who underwent prenatal trio exome sequencing based on parental request between September 2020 and October 2023.
Results: Overall, abnormal findings were detected in 8 families (3.1%, 8/254) by pES. Among these, 6 families (2.3%, 6/254) were found to have fetuses affected with monogenic disorders (2 autosomal recessive conditions and 4 autosomal dominant conditions), while 2 families (0.8%, 2/254) were incidentally found to be couples at risk of having a future pregnancy with a recessive condition. Among the six fetuses detected with monogenic disorders, two fetuses carried a de novo variant in OPA1 and NF1, which are known to cause Optic atrophy 1 and Neurofibromatosis, respectively. One fetus was detected with a maternally inherited variant in PKD2 related to polycystic kidney disease 2 (not known to the mother until then). One fetus was detected with a maternally inherited variant in SDHB associated with Pheochromocytoma. Two fetuses carried compound heterozygous variants in NAGLU and GJB2 associated with Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB and Deafness, respectively. In the 2 families where parents were found to be carriers but the fetuses were unaffected, heterozygous variants in the GJB2 and SERPINB7 genes were detected in the parents, respectively, which are associated with deafness and palmoplantar keratoderma.
Conclusion: Our research indicated that pES can provide significant critical information for families with morphologically normal fetuses. Prenatal screening with exome sequencing requires careful management and detailed pre-test and post-test genetic counseling.
期刊介绍:
Prenatal Diagnosis welcomes submissions in all aspects of prenatal diagnosis with a particular focus on areas in which molecular biology and genetics interface with prenatal care and therapy, encompassing: all aspects of fetal imaging, including sonography and magnetic resonance imaging; prenatal cytogenetics, including molecular studies and array CGH; prenatal screening studies; fetal cells and cell-free nucleic acids in maternal blood and other fluids; preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD); prenatal diagnosis of single gene disorders, including metabolic disorders; fetal therapy; fetal and placental development and pathology; development and evaluation of laboratory services for prenatal diagnosis; psychosocial, legal, ethical and economic aspects of prenatal diagnosis; prenatal genetic counseling