A Solve-RD ClinVar-based reanalysis of 1522 index cases from ERN-ITHACA reveals common pitfalls and misinterpretations in exome sequencing

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributed

Contributors

  • Université de Bourgogne
  • CRG - Centre for Genomic Regulation
  • Radboud University Nijmegen
  • University of Manchester
  • University of Siena
  • IRCCS Ospedale pediatrico Bambino Gesù - Roma
  • Charles University Prague
  • University Hospital Motol
  • University of Bonn Medical Center
  • University of Tübingen

Abstract

Purpose: Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned. Methods: Data from the first 3576 exomes (1522 probands and 2054 relatives) collected from European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies was reanalyzed by the Solve-RD consortium by evaluating for the presence of single-nucleotide variant, and small insertions and deletions already reported as (likely) pathogenic in ClinVar. Variants were filtered according to frequency, genotype, and mode of inheritance and reinterpreted. Results: We identified causal variants in 59 cases (3.9%), 50 of them also raised by other approaches and 9 leading to new diagnoses, highlighting interpretation challenges: variants in genes not known to be involved in human disease at the time of the first analysis, misleading genotypes, or variants undetected by local pipelines (variants in off-target regions, low quality filters, low allelic balance, or high frequency). Conclusion: The “ClinVar low-hanging fruit” analysis represents an effective, fast, and easy approach to recover causal variants from exome sequencing data, herewith contributing to the reduction of the diagnostic deadlock.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number100018
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalGenetics in medicine
Volume25
Issue number4
Early online date20 Jan 2023
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2023
Peer-reviewedNo

External IDs

PubMed 36681873

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • ClinVar, Developmental disorder, Exome reanalysis, Rare diseases, Exome Sequencing, Humans, Alleles, Intellectual Disability/diagnosis, Genotype

Library keywords