Key result
Three pathogenic genetic variants in PKP2 and MYBPC3 were identified as the cause of arrhythmogenic and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies in six families, demonstrating incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.
Why the study?
Most genetic variants identified in cardiomyopathies remain of unknown clinical significance due to incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity, making interpretation and translation challenging.
Observational (n=35)
Yes
Comprehensive genetic analysis in families with cardiomyopathies reveals that even established pathogenic variants exhibit significant variable expressivity and incomplete penetrance, highlighting the need for personalized clinical translation.
May inform cautious genetic counseling in cardiomyopathy families; leaves open validation in larger cohorts.
Cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of inherited cardiac diseases characterized by progressive myocardium abnormalities associated with mechanical and/or electrical dysfunction. Massive genetic sequencing technologies allow a comprehensive genetic analysis to unravel the cause of disease. However, most identified genetic variants remain of unknown clinical significance due to incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Therefore, genetic interpretation of variants and translation into clinical practice remain a current challenge. We performed retrospective comprehensive clinical assessment and genetic analysis in six families, four diagnosed with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, and two diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Genetic testing identified three rare variants (two non-sense and one small indel inducing a frameshift), each present in two families. Although each variant is currently classified as pathogenic and the cause of the diagnosed cardiomyopathy, the onset and/or clinical course differed in each patient. New genetic technology allows comprehensive yet cost-effective genetic analysis, although genetic interpretation, and clinical translation of identified variants should be carefully done in each family in a personalized manner.
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Campuzano et al. (2019) conducted an observational in Cardiomyopathies (Arrhythmogenic and Hypertrophic) (n=35). Pathogenic genetic variants in PKP2 and MYBPC3 was evaluated on Pathogenicity and clinical expression of identified genetic variants. Three pathogenic genetic variants in PKP2 and MYBPC3 were identified as the cause of arrhythmogenic and hypertrophic cardiomyopathies in six families, demonstrating incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.
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