Background: Primary microcephaly (PM) is defined as a significant reduction in occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) of prenatal onset. Clinical and genetic heterogeneity of PM represents a diagnostic challenge.
Methods: We performed detailed phenotypic and genomic analyses in a large cohort (n = 169) of patients referred for PM and could establish a molecular diagnosis in 38 patients.
Results: Pathogenic variants in ASPM and WDR62 were the most frequent causes in non-consanguineous patients in our cohort. In consanguineous patients, microarray and targeted gene panel analyses reached a diagnostic yield of 67%, which contrasts with a much lower rate in non-consanguineous patients (9%). Our series includes 11 novel pathogenic variants and we identify novel candidate genes including IGF2BP3 and DNAH2. We confirm the progression of microcephaly over time in affected children. Epilepsy was an important associated feature in our PM cohort, affecting 34% of patients with a molecular confirmation of the PM diagnosis, with various degrees of severity and seizure types.
Conclusion: Our findings will help to prioritize genomic investigations, accelerate molecular diagnoses, and improve the management of PM patients.
Keywords: Mendeliome; brain developmental disorders; consanguinity; epilepsy; primary microcephaly; rare disease.
© 2021 The Authors. Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.