Key result
Clinical exome sequencing yields ~77% fewer pathogenic variants in DCM-associated genes versus DCM case cohorts.
Why the study?
With expanded clinical exome sequencing, criteria to evaluate the diagnostic weight of incidentally identified variants in dilated cardiomyopathy-associated genes are needed to determine the likelihood of disease pathogenicity.
Does the frequency and distribution of incidentally identified variants in DCM-associated genes differ between clinical referral, DCM case, and control cohorts?
Observational (n=164,903)
Does the frequency and distribution of incidentally identified variants in DCM-associated genes differ between clinical referral, DCM case, and control cohorts?
Absolute Event Rate: 1.9% vs 8.2%
Incidentally identified variants in specific genes (FLNC, RBM20, MYH6, DSP, ABCC9, JPH2, NEXN) are more likely to be associated with DCM than others, guiding the interpretation of clinical exome sequencing results.
May guide interpretation of incidental DCM variants on clinical exomes; leaves open prospective validation for risk stratification.
Background As utilization of clinical exome sequencing (ES) has expanded, criteria for evaluating the diagnostic weight of incidentally identified variants are critical to guide clinicians and researchers. This is particularly important in genes associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which can cause heart failure and sudden death. We sought to compare the frequency and distribution of incidentally identified variants in DCM‐associated genes between a clinical referral cohort with those in control and known case cohorts to determine the likelihood of pathogenicity among those undergoing genetic testing for non‐DCM indications. Methods and Results A total of 39 rare, non‐ TTN DCM‐associated genes were identified and evaluated from a clinical ES testing referral cohort (n=14 005, Baylor Genetic Laboratories) and compared with a DCM case cohort (n=9442) as well as a control cohort of population variants (n=141 456) derived from the gnomAD database. Variant frequencies in each cohort were compared. Signal‐to‐noise ratios were calculated comparing the DCM and ES cohort with the gnomAD cohort. The likely pathogenic/pathogenic variant yield in the DCM cohort (8.2%) was significantly higher than in the ES cohort (1.9%). Based on signal‐to‐noise and correlation analysis, incidental variants found in FLNC , RBM20 , MYH6 , DSP , ABCC9 , JPH2 , and NEXN had the greatest chance of being DCM‐associated. Conclusions The distribution of pathogenic variants between the ES cohort and the DCM case cohort was gene specific, and variants found in the ES cohort were similar to variants found in the control cohort. Incidentally identified variants in specific genes are more associated with DCM than others.
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Yang et al. (2022) conducted an observational in Dilated cardiomyopathy (n=164,903). Incidental genetic variant identification via clinical exome sequencing vs. DCM case cohort and gnomAD control cohort was evaluated on Likely pathogenic/pathogenic variant yield. The likely pathogenic/pathogenic variant yield in rare DCM-associated genes was 1.9% in the clinical exome sequencing cohort compared with 8.2% in the DCM case cohort.
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