Evaluating Prenatal Exome Sequencing Study (EPES)

This study evaluates the impact of the various outcomes of pES (definitive diagnosis, probable diagnosis and IF) on clinical decision making and on parental psychological wellbeing, compared between different analysis strategies to investigate the clinical utility, defined as the balance between potential harms and benefits.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Mendelian Disorders; Congenital Anomalies

Detailed Description

Foetal anomalies as detected on prenatal ultrasound are present in 2-3% of pregnancies. The diagnosis of a genetic syndrome as the underlying cause often has significant consequences for the prognosis and therefore also a significant impact on parental reproductive decision making. In addition to chromosomal testing, prenatal exome sequencing (pES) is increasingly being offered. Although prenatal diagnostic rates are promising, no studies report on the actual implementation of pES in routine care and thus several important knowledge gaps remain regarding clinical utility (the balance between potential harms and benefits) and the preferred analysis strategy (broad versus targeted analysis). A broad analysis has a possible higher diagnostic yield, but it is unknown whether the increased chance of finding an uncertain diagnosis and Incidental Findings outweighs this benefit when it comes to clinical decision making and parental psychological wellbeing. The central aim of this study is to address the knowledge gaps raised above, and increase clinical utility by using the obtained data to improve analysis strategies and to potentially identify new genes.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 1000

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Zuid-Holland
    • Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands, 2333ZA
      • Leiden University Medical Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women with one or more ultrasound findings during the current pregnancy who consent to pES, and their partner.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least one fetal anomaly detected in the current pregnancy, irrespective of gestational age;
• Pregnancy ongoing;
• Mother at least 18 years old and providing consent for pES;
• If father is available: father at least 18 years old and providing consent for pES.

Exclusion Criteria:

There are no exclusion criteria.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Percentage of definitive diagnoses, probable diagnoses and incidental findings (IF)	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patients perspectives on probable diagnoses and incidental findings including psychological wellbeing as measured by questionnaires.	We will use validated scales such as the State Trait Anxiety Inventory-6, the Decisional Conflict Scale, the Decisional Regret Scale, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, the Impact of Event Scale and the Pre- and Postnatal Bonding Scale.	2 years
Clinical impact of prenatal exome sequencing (pES)	Clinical impact will be defined as medical or surgical in utero intervention, pregnancy termination, location and mode of delivery, decisions on comfort care and neonatal policy influenced by the results of pES.	2 years
Impact of different analysis strategies on the distribution of the various outcomes of pES (definitive diagnosis, probable diagnosis and incidental findings)	pES data of all included pregnancies will be retrieved and re-analyzed to minimize differences in variant interpretation and to determine the impact of different analysis strategies on the percentages of various outcomes of pES (definitive diagnoses, probable diagnoses and incidental findings). Different analysis strategies will be employed: analysis of an HPO-based gene panel, analysis of an established gene panel of genes causing multiple congenital anomalies and/or intellectual disability, and analysis of all genes.	2 years

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Number of identified new disease genes	2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Leiden University Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 21, 2022
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 11, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 21, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 3, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 2, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Next Generation Sequencing; Whole Exome Sequencing; Prenatal diagnosis; Clinical Utility; Patient perspectives
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Congenital Abnormalities; Genetic Diseases, Inborn
• Other Study ID Numbers: NL77927.058.21

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No