A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The crucial role of titin in fetal development: recurrent miscarriages and bone, heart and muscle anomalies characterise the severe end of titinopathies spectrum




AuthorsDi Feo Maria Francesca, Lillback Victoria, Jokela Manu, McEntagart Meriel, Homfray Tessa, Giorgio Elisa, Cavalchini Guido C Casalis, Brusco Alfredo, Iascone Maria, Spaccini Luigina, D'Oria Patrizia, Savarese Marco, Udd Bjarne

PublisherBMJ PUBLISHING GROUP

Publication year2023

JournalJournal of Medical Genetics

Journal name in sourceJOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS

Journal acronymJ MED GENET

Volume60

Issue9

First page 866

Last page873

Number of pages8

ISSN0022-2593

eISSN1468-6244

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1136/jmg-2022-109018

Web address https://jmg.bmj.com/content/early/2023/03/28/jmg-2022-109018


Abstract

Background Titin truncating variants (TTNtvs) have been associated with several forms of myopathies and/or cardiomyopathies. In homozygosity or in compound heterozygosity, they cause a wide spectrum of recessive phenotypes with a congenital or childhood onset. Most recessive phenotypes showing a congenital or childhood onset have been described in subjects carrying biallelic TTNtv in specific exons. Often karyotype or chromosomal microarray analyses are the only tests performed when prenatal anomalies are identified. Thereby, many cases caused by TTN defects might be missed in the diagnostic evaluations. In this study, we aimed to dissect the most severe end of the titinopathies spectrum. Methods We performed a retrospective study analysing an international cohort of 93 published and 10 unpublished cases carrying biallelic TTNtv. Results We identified recurrent clinical features showing a significant correlation with the genotype, including fetal akinesia (up to 62%), arthrogryposis (up to 85%), facial dysmorphisms (up to 73%), joint (up to 17%), bone (up to 22%) and heart anomalies (up to 27%) resembling complex, syndromic phenotypes. Conclusion We suggest TTN to be carefully evaluated in any diagnostic process involving patients with these prenatal signs. This step will be essential to improve diagnostic performance, expand our knowledge and optimise prenatal genetic counselling.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 11:50