Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis based on cell‐free DNA for tuberous sclerosis: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) based on cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) has been introduced into the clinical application for some monogenic disorders but not for tuberous sclerosis (TSC) yet, which is an autosomal dominant disease caused by various variations in TSC1 or TSC2 gene. We aimed to explore the feasibility of NIPD on TSC. METHODS: We recruited singleton pregnancies at risk of TSC from 14 families with a proband child. Definitive NIPD for TSC was performed using targeted next‐generation sequencing of cfDNA in parallel with maternal white blood cell DNA (wbcDNA). The NIPD results were validated by amniocentesis or postnatal gene testing and follow‐up of the born children. RESULTS: Missense mutations, nonsense mutations, frameshift mutations, and splice‐site variants which were obtained through de‐novo, maternal, or paternal inheritance were included. The mean and minimum gestational weeks of NIPD were 17.18 ± 5.83 and 8 weeks, respectively. The NIPD results were 100% consistent with the amniocentesis or postnatal gene testing and follow‐up of the born children. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that NIPD based on cfDNA is feasible for TSC, but required to be confirmed with more samples. Studies on TSC can contribute to the application and promotion of NIPD for monogenic disorders.