Prenatal Diagnosis of Chromosome 16p11.2 Microdeletion

Genes (Basel). 2022 Dec 8;13(12):2315. doi: 10.3390/genes13122315.

Abstract

(1) Objective: To investigate the prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling for 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome and to evaluate its pregnancy outcome. (2) Methods: This study included 4968 pregnant women who selected invasive prenatal diagnoses from 1 January 2017 to 1 August 2022. These 4698 pregnancies underwent chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), data on 81 fetuses diagnosed with 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome based on prenatal ultrasound features and genetic test results were recorded, and their pregnancy outcome was evaluated. (3) Results: 1.63% of fetuses (81/4968) were diagnosed with 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome. Among these, there were skeletal malformations in 48.15% of the 81 fetuses, cardiovascular malformations in 30.86%, central nervous system malformations (CNS) in 11.11%, digestive system structural abnormalities in 6.17%, and isolated ultrasonography markers in 3.70%. (4) Conclusions: 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome can display various systemic ultrasound abnormalities in the perinatal period but vertebral malformations are the most common. Our study is the first to report that TBX1 and CJA5 are associated with 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome, expanding the disease spectrum of 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome. In our study, the ventricular septal defect is the main feature of cardiac structural abnormalities caused by 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome. In addition, our study highlights the use of CMA in 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome, analyzed their genetic results, and evaluated the follow-up prognosis, which can be useful for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Keywords: 16p11.2 microdeletion; CMA; genetic counseling; prenatal diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromosome Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Chromosome Disorders* / genetics
  • Chromosome Structures
  • Female
  • Heart Defects, Congenital* / genetics
  • Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis / methods
  • Syndrome

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the sub-project of the National Key Research and Developmental Program (2021YFC2701002), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81801461, 81873836, 81771594, 81671474, 81501267), the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2019A1515012034, 2017A030313460), General Guide Project of Guangzhou Health Commission (20221A011038), and The Project of Guangzhou Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number (202102020191).