Clinical genome sequencing in patients with suspected rare genetic disease in Peru

Abstract

There is limited access to molecular genetic testing in most low- and middle-income countries. The iHope program provides clinical genome sequencing (cGS) to underserved individuals with signs or symptoms of rare genetic diseases and limited or no access to molecular genetic testing. Here we describe the performance and impact of cGS in 247 patients from three clinics in Peru. Although most patients had at least one genetic test prior to cGS (70.9%), the most frequent was karyotyping (53.4%). The diagnostic yield of cGS was 54.3%, with candidate variants reported in an additional 22.3% of patients. Clinical GS results impacted clinician diagnostic evaluation in 85.0% and genetic counseling in 72.1% of cases. Changes in management were reported in 71.3%, inclusive of referrals (64.7%), therapeutics (26.3%), laboratory or physiological testing (25.5%), imaging (19%), and palliative care (17.4%), suggesting that increased availability of genomic testing in Peru would enable improved patient management.