Johannes Birtel1,2, Martin Gliem1,2,3, Akio Oishi1,4, Philipp L Müller1,2, Philipp Herrmann1,2, Frank G Holz1,2, Elisabeth Mangold5, Michael Knapp6, Hanno J Bolz7,8, Peter Charbel Issa1,2,3. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. 2. Center for Rare Diseases Bonn (ZSEB), University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. 3. Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. 4. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. 5. Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. 6. Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics, and Epidemiology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany. 7. Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. 8. Bioscientia Center for Human Genetics, Ingelheim, Germany.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: Uncommon characteristics in genetically unsolved retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients may indicate an incorrect clinical diagnosis or as yet unknown genetic causes resulting in specific retinal phenotypes. The diagnostic yield of targeted next-generation sequencing may be increased by a reasonable preselection of RP-patients. BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate and compare features of genetically solved and unsolved RP-patients. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred and twelve consecutive RP-patients who underwent extensive molecular genetic analysis. METHODS: Characterization of patients based on multimodal imaging and medical history. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences between genetically solved and unsolved RP-patients. RESULTS: Compared to genetically solved patients (n = 77), genetically unsolved patients (n = 35) more frequently had an age of disease-onset above 30 years (60% vs 8%; P < 0.0001), showed atypical fundus features (49% vs 8%; P < 0. 0001) and indicators for phenocopies (eg, autoimmune diseases) (17% vs 0%; P < 0. 001). Evidence for a particular inheritance pattern was less common (20% vs 49%; P < 0. 01). The diagnostic yield was 84% (71/85) in patients with first symptoms below 30 years-of-age, compared to 69% (77/112) in the overall cohort. The other selection criteria alone or in combination resulted in limited further increase of the diagnostic yield (up to 89%) while excluding considerably more patients (up to 56%) from genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The medical history and retinal phenotype differ between genetically solved and a subgroup of unsolved RP-patients, which may reflect undetected genotypes or retinal conditions mimicking RP. Patient stratification may inform on the individual likelihood of identifying disease-causing mutations and may impact patient counselling.
IMPORTANCE: Uncommon characteristics in genetically unsolved retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients may indicate an incorrect clinical diagnosis or as yet unknown genetic causes resulting in specific retinal phenotypes. The diagnostic yield of targeted next-generation sequencing may be increased by a reasonable preselection of RP-patients. BACKGROUND: To systematically evaluate and compare features of genetically solved and unsolved RP-patients. DESIGN: Retrospective, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred and twelve consecutive RP-patients who underwent extensive molecular genetic analysis. METHODS: Characterization of patients based on multimodal imaging and medical history. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences between genetically solved and unsolved RP-patients. RESULTS: Compared to genetically solved patients (n = 77), genetically unsolved patients (n = 35) more frequently had an age of disease-onset above 30 years (60% vs 8%; P < 0.0001), showed atypical fundus features (49% vs 8%; P < 0. 0001) and indicators for phenocopies (eg, autoimmune diseases) (17% vs 0%; P < 0. 001). Evidence for a particular inheritance pattern was less common (20% vs 49%; P < 0. 01). The diagnostic yield was 84% (71/85) in patients with first symptoms below 30 years-of-age, compared to 69% (77/112) in the overall cohort. The other selection criteria alone or in combination resulted in limited further increase of the diagnostic yield (up to 89%) while excluding considerably more patients (up to 56%) from genetic testing. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The medical history and retinal phenotype differ between genetically solved and a subgroup of unsolved RP-patients, which may reflect undetected genotypes or retinal conditions mimicking RP. Patient stratification may inform on the individual likelihood of identifying disease-causing mutations and may impact patient counselling.
Authors: Johannes Birtel; Martin Gliem; Kristina Hess; Theresa H Birtel; Frank G Holz; Ulrich Zechner; Hanno J Bolz; Philipp Herrmann Journal: Genes (Basel) Date: 2020-01-28 Impact factor: 4.096
Authors: Graeme C Black; Panagiotis Sergouniotis; Andrea Sodi; Bart P Leroy; Caroline Van Cauwenbergh; Petra Liskova; Karen Grønskov; Artur Klett; Susanne Kohl; Gita Taurina; Marius Sukys; Lonneke Haer-Wigman; Katarzyna Nowomiejska; João Pedro Marques; Dorothée Leroux; Frans P M Cremers; Elfride De Baere; Hélène Dollfus Journal: Orphanet J Rare Dis Date: 2021-03-20 Impact factor: 4.123
Authors: Theresa H Birtel; Johannes Birtel; Kristina Hess; Amelie C Clemens; Moritz Lindner; Philipp Herrmann; Frank G Holz; Martin Gliem Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2021-07-21 Impact factor: 3.117