Genome sequencing identifies biallelic variants in SCLT1 in a patient with syndromic nephronophthisis: Reflections on the SCLT1-related ciliopathy spectrum

Abstract

Ciliopathies represent a major category of rare multisystem disease. Arriving at a specific diagnosis for a given patient is challenged by the significant genetic and clinical heterogeneity of these conditions. We report the outcome of the diagnostic odyssey of a child with obesity, renal, and retinal disease. Genome sequencing identified biallelic splice site variants in sodium channel and clathrin linker 1 (SCLT1), an emerging ciliopathy gene. We review the literature on all patients reported with biallelic SCLT1 variants highlighting a frequent clinical presentation that overlaps Bardet–Biedl and Senior–Loken syndromes. We also discuss current concepts in syndrome designation in light of these data.