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Expert consensus guidelines for the genetic diagnosis of Alport syndrome

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Abstract

Recent expert guidelines recommend genetic testing for the diagnosis of Alport syndrome. Here, we describe current best practice and likely future developments. In individuals with suspected Alport syndrome, all three COL4A5, COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes should be examined for pathogenic variants, probably by high throughput-targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, with a customised panel for simultaneous testing of the three Alport genes. These techniques identify up to 95% of pathogenic COL4A variants. Where causative pathogenic variants cannot be demonstrated, the DNA should be examined for deletions or insertions by re-examining the NGS sequencing data or with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). These techniques identify a further 5% of variants, and the remaining few changes include deep intronic splicing variants or cases of somatic mosaicism. Where no pathogenic variants are found, the basis for the clinical diagnosis should be reviewed. Genes in which mutations produce similar clinical features to Alport syndrome (resulting in focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, complement pathway disorders, MYH9-related disorders, etc.) should be examined. NGS approaches have identified novel combinations of pathogenic variants in Alport syndrome. Two variants, with one in COL4A3 and another in COL4A4, produce a more severe phenotype than an uncomplicated heterozygous change. NGS may also identify further coincidental pathogenic variants in genes for podocyte-expressed proteins that also modify the phenotype. Our understanding of the genetics of Alport syndrome is evolving rapidly, and both genetic and non-genetic factors are likely to contribute to the observed phenotypic variability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Melbourne and Northern Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia

    Judy Savige

  2. Medical Genetics, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    Francesca Ariani, Francesca Mari, Mirella Bruttini & Alessandra Renieri

  3. Clinic of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University of Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany

    Oliver Gross

  4. Molecular Medicine Research Centre, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Constantinos Deltas

  5. Department of Clinical Genetics, Guys’ and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK

    Frances Flinter

  6. Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China

    Jie Ding

  7. Centre for Nephrology, Royal Free Hospital, University College London, London, UK

    Daniel P. Gale

  8. Centre for Nephrology and Metabolic Disorders, Weisswasser, Germany

    Mato Nagel

  9. Genetics, Guy’s Hospital, Viapath, London, UK

    Michael Yau & Helen Storey

  10. Institute of Pediatrics, Pirogov Russian Medical University, Moscow, Russia

    Lev Shagam

  11. Inherited Kidney Disorders, Nephrology Department, Fundacio Puigvert, Instituto de Investigacion Carlos III, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Roser Torra

  12. Molecular Biology Laboratory, Fundacio Puigvert, Instituto de Investigacion Carlos III, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Elisabet Ars

  13. Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany

    Julia Hoefele

  14. Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Siena, Italy

    Guido Garosi

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  1. Judy Savige
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  2. Francesca Ariani
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  3. Francesca Mari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judy Savige.

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Additional information

The following guidelines were developed by an international group of expert adult and paediatric physicians, geneticists and researchers who work on Alport syndrome, and met for discussion at the Second Alport syndrome meeting in Gottingen, Germany in 2015 and at Glagow, UK in 2017. The guidelines have been further refined until a consensus was reached after a year of email discussions. These guidelines are complementary to the ‘Expert guidelines on the diagnosis and management of Alport syndrome and thin basement membrane nephropathy’ (JASN 2013).

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Savige, J., Ariani, F., Mari, F. et al. Expert consensus guidelines for the genetic diagnosis of Alport syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 34, 1175–1189 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-018-3985-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-018-3985-4

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