Preimplantation genetic testing in two Danish couples affected by Peutz-Jeghers syndrome

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2023 Mar;58(3):314-318. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2022.2129031. Epub 2022 Oct 6.

Abstract

Background: Guidelines from the European Hereditary Tumor Group as well as The Danish National Guidelines for Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS) state that both prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorders (PGT-M) should be offered to patients with PJS. However, only a few cases resulting in viable pregnancies have been published.

Objective: We present two cases of PJS patients going through PGT-M for PJS. We highlight the awareness of this possibility and discuss the technical and ethical challenges of performing PGT-M for PJS.

Methods and results: Case 1: A 36-year-old male with PJS and his partner were referred for genetic counseling. The patient carried a pathogenic de novo variant in STK11. After a terminated pregnancy of a fetus carrying the same pathogenic variant, microsatellite polymorphic marker analysis was established, and the patient was offered PGT-M. The female partner of the patient gave birth to a healthy boy after five years of fertility treatment. Case 2: A 35-year-old female with PJS and her partner were referred for genetic counseling. She carried an inherited pathogenic STK11 variant. The couple was offered PGT-M. Genetic testing of the embryos was performed using microsatellite polymorphic markers. After two rounds of oocyte extraction a blastocyst predicted not to be affected by PJS was identified. The blastocyst was transferred; however, this did not result in a viable pregnancy.

Conclusions: PGT-M can be offered to patients with PJS. The process may be long and filled with ethical dilemmas requiring patients to be motivated and persistent.

Keywords: PGT; Peutz–Jeghers syndrome; Preimplantation genetic testing; family planning; tumor predisposition syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome* / genetics
  • Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome* / pathology
  • Pregnancy
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics

Substances

  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases