Loss-of-function variants in SRRM2 cause a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Purpose: SRRM2 encodes the SRm300 protein, a splicing factor of the SR-related protein family characterized by its serine- and arginine-enriched domains. It promotes interactions between messenger RNA and the spliceosome catalytic machinery. This gene, predicted to be highly intolerant to loss of function (LoF) and very conserved through evolution, has not been previously reported in constitutive human disease.

Does non-invasive prenatal testing affect the livebirth prevalence of Down syndrome in the Netherlands? A population-based register study.

Objective: To evaluate if non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) affects livebirth (LB) prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) in the Netherlands.

Method: Data from clinical genetics laboratories and the Working Party on Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy (2014-2018) and previous published data (1991-2013) were used to assess trends for DS LB prevalence and reduction percentage (the net decrease in DS LBs resulting from selective termination of pregnancies). Statistics Netherlands provided general population data.

Isochromosome 21q is overrepresented among false-negative cell-free DNA prenatal screening results involving Down syndrome.

False-negative cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening results involving Down syndrome are rare, but have high clinical impact on patients and their healthcare providers. Understanding the biology behind these results may allow for improved diagnostic follow-up and counseling. In 5 different centers offering cfDNA prenatal screening, 9 false-negative results were documented in 646 confirmed cases of trisomy 21; a false-negative rate of 1.

Mosaic maternal 10qter deletions are associated with FRA10B expansions and may cause false-positive noninvasive prenatal screening results.

Purpose: Using genome-wide noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS), we detected a 20-megabase specific deletion starting at 10q25 in eight pregnancies. The deletion could not be confirmed by invasive testing. Since all 10(q25→qter) deletions started close to the FRA10B fragile site in 10q25, we investigated whether the pregnant women were indeed carriers of FRA10B.

Origin and clinical relevance of chromosomal aberrations other than the common trisomies detected by genome-wide NIPS: results of the TRIDENT study.

PurposeNoninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) using cell-free DNA in maternal blood is highly sensitive for detecting fetal trisomies 21, 18, and 13. Using a genome-wide approach, other chromosome anomalies can also be detected. We report on the origin, frequency, and clinical significance of these other chromosome aberrations found in pregnancies at risk for trisomy 21, 18, or 13.

Comparing methods for fetal fraction determination and quality control of NIPT samples.

Objective: To compare available analysis methods for determining fetal fraction on single read next generation sequencing data. This is important as the performance of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) procedures depends on the fraction of fetal DNA.

Methods: We tested six different methods for the detection of fetal fraction in NIPT samples.

Trial by Dutch laboratories for evaluation of non-invasive prenatal testing. Part I-clinical impact.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of nationwide implementation of genome-wide non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in pregnancies at increased risk for fetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13 (TRIDENT study).

Method: Women with elevated risk based on first trimester combined testing (FCT ≥ 1:200) or medical history, not advanced maternal age alone, were offered NIPT as contingent screening test, performed by Dutch University Medical laboratories. We analyzed uptake, test performance, redraw/failure rate, turn-around time and pregnancy outcome.

Trisomy 4 mosaicism: Delineation of the phenotype.

Trisomy 4 mosaicism in liveborns is very rare. We describe a 17-month-old girl with trisomy 4 mosaicism. Clinical findings in this patient are compared to previously reported patients.

Prenatal diagnosis of a trisomy 7/trisomy 13 mosaicism.

Double aneuploidy mosaicism of two different aneuploidy cell lines is rare. We describe for the first time a double trisomy mosaicism, involving chromosomes 7 and 13 in a fetus presenting with multiple congenital anomalies. No evidence for chimerism was found by DNA genotyping.