Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41595457›Full record

ArticleGenes2025

Prenatal Exome Sequencing: When Does Diagnostic Yield Meet Clinical Utility?

Alessia Carrer, Francesco Maria Crupano, Berardo Rinaldi, Giulietta Scuvera, Claudia Cesaretti, Valeria Nicotra, Silvana Gangi, Lorenzo Colombo, Gabriella Araimo, Matilde Tagliabue and 12 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genes, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Alessia CarrerDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-2638-9910
Francesco Maria CrupanoFetal Medicine and Surgery Service, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Berardo RinaldiMedical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5763-5347
Giulietta ScuveraMedical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Claudia CesarettiMedical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6819-0846
Valeria NicotraMedical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Silvana GangiNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Lorenzo ColomboNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Gabriella AraimoNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Matilde TagliabueDepartment of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0009-0004-5501-428X
Daniela MarchettiMedical Genetics Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy.
Laura PezzoliMedical Genetics Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8111-563X
Maria GarzoMedical Genetics Laboratory, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Veronica AccurtiFetal Medicine and Surgery Service, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Grazia VolpeFetal Medicine and Surgery Service, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Simona BoitoFetal Medicine and Surgery Service, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8331-5881
Palma FinelliMedical Genetics Laboratory, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Monica FumagalliNeonatal Intensive Care Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Maria Francesca BedeschiMedical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6723-9177
Maria IasconeMedical Genetics Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy.
Nicola PersicoFetal Medicine and Surgery Service, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Federica NatacciMedical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-8625-3089

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesPrenatal Exome Sequencing (pES) has revolutionized prenatal diagnosis in fetuses with congenital anomalies. Although its performance is very promising, previous pES studies have mainly focused on diagnostic yield, often without considering the actual impact on ongoing pregnancies. In this study, we aim to (1) assess whether a prenatal molecular diagnosis can reliably predict the clinical features of the unborn child and (2) determine the gestational age (gw) at which ultrasound (US) findings are sufficient to support the pathogenicity of genetic variants detected by pES.

methodsWe retrospectively selected 47 cases complicated by US anomalies that underwent Exome Sequencing (ES) and for which complete clinical assessment was available. A blinded reanalysis of ES data was performed, considering only prenatal features.

resultsIn our cohort, standard ES led to a molecular diagnosis in 43% of cases. The blinded reanalysis revealed that a complete or partial retrospective prenatal diagnosis was achievable in 95% of diagnosed cases. The mean gestational week at which US data would have supported molecular diagnosis was 22 + 5 weeks. The clinical follow-up confirmed a syndromic presentation in 21 out of 23 newborns and in all terminated pregnancies.

conclusionsOur study further confirms that pES is a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting genetic etiology in fetuses with congenital malformations. In most cases, pES results accurately predict the postnatal phenotype. However, the prenatal setting requires specific adjustments and precautions, and a negative pES result cannot be considered reassuring.

Indexed as

Congenital AbnormalitiesExome SequencingPrenatal DiagnosisAdultFemaleGenetic TestingGestational AgeHumansPregnancyRetrospective StudiesUltrasonography, Prenatalclinical utilitydiagnostic yieldfetal anomaliesgenotype-phenotype correlationprenatal exome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID41595457
PMCPMC12841175

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.