Connect Sign In
FeedbackMassively Parallel Sequencing
- Preferred test to diagnose LDS in individuals who meet diagnostic criteria.
- Use to determine if at-risk family members have a TGFBR1 or TGFBR2 gene variant when familial variant is unknown and affected relatives are not available for testing.
If a familial sequence variant has been previously identified, targeted sequencing for that variant may be appropriate; refer to the Laboratory Test Directory for additional information.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a connective tissue disorder causing a wide range of vascular, skeletal, craniofacial, cutaneous, allergic/inflammatory, gastrointestinal, and ocular abnormalities. Pathogenic variants in the TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 genes cause most cases of LDS. Quality of life may be significantly affected depending on the type and severity of symptoms, and average life expectancy is decreased due to the risk of arterial aneurysms. The most critical aspect of medical management and screening for individuals with LDS is cardiovascular evaluation in order to monitor risks of aneurysms, dissections, and ruptures. Significant variation in clinical features is common, even among family members with LDS.
Disease Overview
Incidence
Unknown
Symptoms
| Vascular |
|
| Musculoskeletal |
|
| Craniofacial |
|
| Cutaneous |
|
| Allergic/inflammatory disease |
|
| Ocular |
|
Diagnostic Criteria
A diagnosis can be established in an individual with no family history of LDS when a pathogenic variant causative for LDS is identified in SMAD2, SMAD3, TGFB2, TGFB3, TGFBR1, or TGFBR2, and there is either:
- Aortic root enlargement with a z-score of at least 2.0, type A dissection.
OR
- A combination of craniofacial, skeletal, cutaneous, and vascular findings characteristic of LDS.
In asymptomatic individuals with a positive family history, a diagnosis of LDS can be made based on molecular genetic testing alone.
Genetics
Causative Genes
TGFBR1, TGFBR2, TGFB2, TGFB3, SMAD2, and SMAD3
Inheritance
Autosomal dominant; 75% of cases are due to de novo variants
Penetrance
Nearly complete
Test Interpretation
Sensitivity/Specificity
Up to 75-85% by sequencing of TGFBR1 and TGFBR2
Analytic Sensitivity/Specificity
For massively parallel sequencing:
| Variant Class | Analytic Sensitivity (PPA) Estimatea (%) | Analytic Sensitivity (PPA) 95% Credibility Regiona (%) |
|---|---|---|
| SNVs | 99.2 | 96.9-99.4 |
| Deletions 1-10 bp | 93.8 | 84.3-98.2 |
| Deletions 11-44 bp | 99.9 | 87.8-100 |
| Insertions 1-10 bp | 94.8 | 86.8-98.5 |
| Insertions 11-23 bp | 99.9 | 62.1-100 |
aGenes included on this test are a subset of a larger methods-based validation from which the PPA values are derived. bp, base pairs; PPA, positive percent agreement; SNVs, single nucleotide variants | ||
Results
| Result | Result Description | Interpretive Data |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Pathogenic variant detected | Confirms a diagnosis of LDS in a symptomatic individual |
| Negative | No variant detected | Reduces risk, but does not exclude a diagnosis of LDS in a symptomatic individual |
| Inconclusive | Sequence variant of unknown clinical significance may be detected | Uncertain whether variant is causative for LDS |
Limitations
- A negative result does not exclude a diagnosis of Loeys-Dietz syndrome or other related disorders.
- Diagnostic errors can occur due to rare sequence variations.
- Interpretation of this test result may be impacted if this patient has had an allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
- The following will not be evaluated:
- Variants outside the coding regions and intron-exon boundaries of TGFBR1 and TGFBR2
- Regulatory region and deep intronic variants
- Noncoding transcripts
- Large deletions/duplications in any of the tested genes
- The following may not be detected:
- Deletions/duplications/insertions of any size by massively parallel sequencing
- Some variants due to technical limitations in the presence of pseudogenes, repetitive, or homologous regions
- Low-level somatic variants
References
-
GeneReviews - Loeys-Dietz Syndrome
Loeys BL, Dietz HC. Loeys-Dietz syndrome. In: Adam MP, Ardinger HH, Pagon RA, et al, eds. GeneReviews. University of Washington, Seattle. Last updated Mar 2018; accessed Jun 2021.