Christina A. Eichstaedt, Catharina Belge, Wendy K. Chung, Stefan Gräf, Ekkehard Grünig, David Montani, Rozenn Quarck, Jair A. Tenorio-Castano, Florent Soubrier, Richard C. Trembath, Nicholas W. Morrell
Heidelberg University Hospital. University of Leuven. Columbia University. University of Cambridge. Université Paris-Saclay. Hôpital Marie Lannelongue. Hospital Universitario La Paz. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras. ITHACA, European Reference Network. Sorbonne Université. King’s College London.
Germany, United States, France, Spain and United Kingdom
European Respiratory Journal
Eur Respir J 2023; 61:
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01471-2022
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease that can be caused by (likely) pathogenic germline genomic variants. In addition to the most prevalent disease gene, BMPR2 (bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2), several genes, some belonging to distinct functional classes, are also now known to predispose to the development of PAH. As a consequence, specialist and non-specialist clinicians and healthcare professionals are increasingly faced with a range of questions regarding the need for, approaches to and benefits/risks of genetic testing for PAH patients and/or related family members. We provide a consensus-based approach to recommendations for genetic counselling and assessment of current best practice for disease gene testing. We provide a framework and the type of information to be provided to patients and relatives through the process of genetic counselling, and describe the presently known disease causal genes to be analysed. Benefits of including molecular genetic testing within the management protocol of patients with PAH include the identification of individuals misclassified by other diagnostic approaches, the optimisation of phenotypic characterisation for aggregation of outcome data, including in clinical trials, and importantly through cascade screening, the detection of healthy causal variant carriers, to whom regular assessment should be offered.
Category
Consensus Guidelines for Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Genetic Factors Associated with Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease or Adult Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: Yes