Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?

In contrast to hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1-inhibitor deficiency, the detection of pathogenic variants in genes linked to HAE with normal C1 inhibitor levels (HAE-nC1INH) is required for the diagnosis of the corresponding types of the disease. The mainstreaming of genomic technology and the...

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Main Authors: Anastasios E. Germenis, Despina Sanoudou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1605727/full
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author Anastasios E. Germenis
Despina Sanoudou
author_facet Anastasios E. Germenis
Despina Sanoudou
author_sort Anastasios E. Germenis
collection DOAJ
description In contrast to hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1-inhibitor deficiency, the detection of pathogenic variants in genes linked to HAE with normal C1 inhibitor levels (HAE-nC1INH) is required for the diagnosis of the corresponding types of the disease. The mainstreaming of genomic technology and the increasing use of next generation sequencing have increased the possibility of an unintentional detection of HAE-nC1INH pathogenic variants and allowed the incidental finding of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in the relevant genes. Apart from F12 and PLG pathogenic variants, the current level of evidence on the prevalence and penetrance of variants associated with HAE-nC1INH does not support the reporting of their incidental finding. On the other hand, although VUS should not be used in clinical decision-making, further consideration is warranted (a) for VUS found in exon 9 of the F12 gene after a diagnostic genetic analysis of individuals either with or without personal or family history of angioedema, and (b) for VUS found in any of the other genes linked to HAE-nC1INH, after genetic analysis performed in the context of differential diagnosis of angioedema cases. Given the complexity of interpreting, reporting and communicating incidental findings, a close partnership between patients, clinicians, laboratory geneticists and genetic counsellors is essential to optimize the management of these results.
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spelling doaj-art-8091c6d0efb044a7a6601ecbd85c8cbb2025-08-20T03:21:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16057271605727Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?Anastasios E. Germenis0Despina Sanoudou1Department of Immunology & Histocombatibility, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, GreeceClinical Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, GreeceIn contrast to hereditary angioedema (HAE) due to C1-inhibitor deficiency, the detection of pathogenic variants in genes linked to HAE with normal C1 inhibitor levels (HAE-nC1INH) is required for the diagnosis of the corresponding types of the disease. The mainstreaming of genomic technology and the increasing use of next generation sequencing have increased the possibility of an unintentional detection of HAE-nC1INH pathogenic variants and allowed the incidental finding of variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in the relevant genes. Apart from F12 and PLG pathogenic variants, the current level of evidence on the prevalence and penetrance of variants associated with HAE-nC1INH does not support the reporting of their incidental finding. On the other hand, although VUS should not be used in clinical decision-making, further consideration is warranted (a) for VUS found in exon 9 of the F12 gene after a diagnostic genetic analysis of individuals either with or without personal or family history of angioedema, and (b) for VUS found in any of the other genes linked to HAE-nC1INH, after genetic analysis performed in the context of differential diagnosis of angioedema cases. Given the complexity of interpreting, reporting and communicating incidental findings, a close partnership between patients, clinicians, laboratory geneticists and genetic counsellors is essential to optimize the management of these results.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1605727/fullhereditary angioedemaincidental findingsincidental VUSpenetrancesecondary findingsvariants of uncertain significance
spellingShingle Anastasios E. Germenis
Despina Sanoudou
Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?
Frontiers in Immunology
hereditary angioedema
incidental findings
incidental VUS
penetrance
secondary findings
variants of uncertain significance
title Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?
title_full Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?
title_fullStr Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?
title_full_unstemmed Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?
title_short Incidental findings related to genes associated to HAE-nC1INH: how to proceed?
title_sort incidental findings related to genes associated to hae nc1inh how to proceed
topic hereditary angioedema
incidental findings
incidental VUS
penetrance
secondary findings
variants of uncertain significance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1605727/full
work_keys_str_mv AT anastasiosegermenis incidentalfindingsrelatedtogenesassociatedtohaenc1inhhowtoproceed
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