Genet Med. 2025 Mar 7:101403. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2025.101403. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To explore long-term trajectories of children who received rapid genome sequencing (RGS) in intensive care settings. METHODS: We examined the electronic health records (EHR) of 67 critically ill pediatric patients who received RGS six to eight years ago with a collective initial diagnostic yield of 46%. RESULTS: The median length of follow up was 6.2 years (IQR 4.0-7.2 years). RGS-diagnosed patients had a longer average follow-up time compared to undiagnosed patients (5.9 years vs 4.8 years, p = 0.026) and more subspecialty appointments per follow-up year (9.4 vs 6.9, p = 0.036). Mortality during the follow-up period was 9%. Patients averaged 2.1 hospital readmissions per follow-up year and 28.1 hospitalized days per follow-up year. Forty-four patients (66%) had a documented new phenotype in the EHR during their follow-up period. Seven patients received clinician-driven re-analysis during the follow-up period, yielding one new diagnosis. Systematic reanalysis of RGS performed as part of this study identified four new candidate diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients who receive RGS during intensive care unit hospitalizations continue to be high healthcare utilizers in subsequent years, regardless of whether RGS identified a diagnosis. Additionally, two-thirds of this cohort had a documented phenotypic change over the follow-up period, indicating dynamic clinical evolution in the years following RGS. PMID:40062436 | DOI:10.1016/j.gim.2025.101403

NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Jan 30;8(1):72. doi: 10.1038/s41746-025-01458-9. ABSTRACT The Mendelian Phenotype Search Engine (MPSE), a clinical decision support tool using Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning, helped neonatologists expedite decisions to whole genome sequencing (WGS) to diagnose patients in the neonatal intensive care unit. After the MPSE was introduced, utilization of WGS increased, time to ordering WGS decreased, and WGS diagnostic yield increased. PMID:39885315 | DOI:10.1038/s41746-025-01458-9

Am J Hum Genet. 2024 Dec 5;111(12):2643-2667. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.10.020. ABSTRACT Large prospective clinical trials are underway or planned that examine the clinical utility and cost effectiveness of genome-based newborn screening (gNBS). One gNBS platform, BeginNGS, currently screens 53,575 variants for 412 severe childhood genetic diseases with 1,603 efficacious therapies. Retrospective evaluation of BeginNGS in 618,290 subjects suggests adequate sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) to proceed to prospective studies. To inform pivotal clinical trial design, we undertook a pilot clinical trial. We enrolled 120 infants in a regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) who were not under consideration for rapid diagnostic genome sequencing (RDGS). Each enrollee received BeginNGS and two index tests (California state NBS and RDGS). California NBS identified 4 of 4 true positive (TP) findings (TP rate 3.6%, sensitivity 100%) and 11 false positive (FP) findings (PPV 27%). RDGS identified 41 diagnostic findings in 36 neonates (diagnostic rate 30%). BeginNGS identified 5 of 6 on-target TP disorders (TP rate 4.2%, 95% confidence interval 1%-8%, sensitivity 83%) and no FPs (PPV 100%). Changes in management were anticipated following the return of 27 RDGS results in 25 enrollees (clinical utility [CU] 21%), 3 of 4 NBS TPs (CU 2.7%), and all BeginNGS TPs (CU 4.2%). The incidence of actionable genetic diseases in NICU infants not being considered for RDGS suggests (1) performance of RDGS in ∼20% of admissions misses many genetic diagnoses, (2) NICU enrollment in gNBS trials will greatly increase power to test endpoints, and (3) NICUs may be attractive for early implementation of consented BeginNGS screening. PMID:39642868 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.10.020

Am J Hum Genet. 2024 Dec 5;111(12):2618-2642. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.10.021. ABSTRACT Genome-sequence-based newborn screening (gNBS) has substantial potential to improve outcomes in hundreds of severe childhood genetic disorders (SCGDs). However, a major impediment to gNBS is imprecision due to variants classified as pathogenic (P) or likely pathogenic (LP) that are not SCGD causal. gNBS with 53,855 P/LP variants, 342 genes, 412 SCGDs, and 1,603 therapies was positive in 74% of UK Biobank (UKB470K) adults, suggesting 97% false positives. We used the phenomenon of purifying hyperselection, which acts to decrease the frequency of SCGD causal diplotypes, to reduce false positives. Training of gene-disease-inheritance mode-diplotype tetrads in 618,290 control and affected subjects identified 293 variants or haplotypes and seven genes with variable inheritance contributing higher positive diplotype counts than consistent with purifying hyperselection and with little or no evidence of SCGD causality. With these changes, 2.0% of UKB470K adults were positive. In contrast, gNBS was positive in 7.2% of 3,118 critically ill children with suspected SCGDs and 7.9% of 705 infant deaths. When compared with rapid diagnostic genome sequencing (RDGS), gNBS had 99.1% recall. In eight true-positive children, gNBS was projected to decrease time to diagnosis by a median of 121 days and avoid life-threatening disease presentations in four children, organ damage in six children, ∼$1.25 million in healthcare cost, and ten (1.4%) infant deaths. Federated training predicated on purifying hyperselection provides a general framework to attain high precision in population screening. Federated training across many biobanks and clinical trials can provide a privacy-preserving mechanism for qualification of gNBS in diverse genetic ancestries. PMID:39642867 | DOI:10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.10.021

J Perinatol. 2024 Nov 27. doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-02181-1. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to describe the impact of rapid and ultra-rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS/urWGS) on the care of neonatal intensive care (NICU) patients who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study at a single-center NICU in a tertiary children’s hospital. The study population includes NICU patients treated with ECMO from May 2017 to September 2023. Patients were evaluated for whether whole genome was completed, speed of testing (rapid vs. ultra-rapid), diagnostic rate, and clinical utility. RESULT: Twenty-six (72%) patients had rWGS/urWGS. A diagnosis associated with the patient’s phenotype was made in 12 patients (46%). A change in clinical management was made due to rWGS/urWGS in 10 patients (38%) including avoidance of imaging studies, decisions regarding goals of care, and screening studies. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a high diagnostic rate and clinical utility of rWGS/urWGS for NICU patients requiring ECMO. PMID:39604575 | DOI:10.1038/s41372-024-02181-1

Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2024 Apr 26. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000003522. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: Analysis of the clinical utility of rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) outside of the neonatal period is lacking. We describe the use of rWGS in PICU and cardiovascular ICU (CICU) patients across four institutions. DESIGN: Ambidirectional multisite cohort study. SETTING: Four tertiary children’s hospitals. PATIENTS: Children 0-18 years old in the PICU or CICU who underwent rWGS analysis, from May 2016 to June 2023. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 133 patients underwent clinical, phenotype-driven rWGS analysis, 36 prospectively. A molecular diagnosis was identified in 79 patients (59%). Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 6 months (IQR 1.2 mo-4.6 yr). Median time for return of preliminary results was 3 days (IQR 2-4). In 79 patients with a molecular diagnosis, there was a change in ICU management in 19 patients (24%); and some change in clinical management in 63 patients (80%). Nondiagnosis changed management in 5 of 54 patients (9%). The clinical specialty ordering rWGS did not affect diagnostic rate. Factors associated with greater odds ratio (OR [95% CI]; OR [95% CI]) of diagnosis included dysmorphic features (OR 10.9 [95% CI, 1.8-105]) and congenital heart disease (OR 4.2 [95% CI, 1.3-16.8]). Variables associated with greater odds of changes in management included obtaining a genetic diagnosis (OR 16.6 [95% CI, 5.5-62]) and a shorter time to genetic result (OR 0.8 [95% CI, 0.76-0.9]). Surveys of pediatric intensivists indicated that rWGS-enhanced clinical prognostication (p < 0.0001) and contributed to a decision to consult palliative care (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this 2016-2023 multiple-PICU/CICU cohort, we have shown that timely genetic diagnosis is feasible across institutions. Application of rWGS had a 59% (95% CI, 51-67%) rate of diagnostic yield and was associated with changes in critical care management and long-term patient management. PMID:38668387 | DOI:10.1097/PCC.0000000000003522

NPJ Genom Med. 2024 Feb 27;9(1):17. doi: 10.1038/s41525-024-00404-0. ABSTRACT Single locus (Mendelian) diseases are a leading cause of childhood hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality, and healthcare cost. Rapid genome sequencing (RGS), ultra-rapid genome sequencing (URGS), and rapid exome sequencing (RES) are diagnostic tests for genetic diseases for ICU patients. In 44 studies of children in ICUs with diseases of unknown etiology, 37% received a genetic diagnosis, 26% had consequent changes in management, and net healthcare costs were reduced by $14,265 per child tested by URGS, RGS, or RES. URGS outperformed RGS and RES with faster time to diagnosis, and higher rate of diagnosis and clinical utility. Diagnostic and clinical outcomes will improve as methods evolve, costs decrease, and testing is implemented within precision medicine delivery systems attuned to ICU needs. URGS, RGS, and RES are currently performed in <5% of the ~200,000 children likely to benefit annually due to lack of payor coverage, inadequate reimbursement, hospital policies, hospitalist unfamiliarity, under-recognition of possible genetic diseases, and current formatting as tests rather than as a rapid precision medicine delivery system. The gap between actual and optimal outcomes in children in ICUs is currently increasing since expanded use of URGS, RGS, and RES lags growth in those likely to benefit through new therapies. There is sufficient evidence to conclude that URGS, RGS, or RES should be considered in all children with diseases of uncertain etiology at ICU admission. Minimally, diagnostic URGS, RGS, or RES should be ordered early during admissions of critically ill infants and children with suspected genetic diseases. PMID:38413639 | DOI:10.1038/s41525-024-00404-0

Front Pediatr. 2024 Feb 19;12:1349519. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1349519. eCollection 2024. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Multi-center implementation of rapid whole genome sequencing with assessment of the clinical utility of rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS), including positive, negative and uncertain results, in admitted infants with a suspected genetic disease. STUDY DESIGN: rWGS tests were ordered at eight hospitals between November 2017 and April 2020. Investigators completed a survey of demographic data, Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms, test results and impacts of results on clinical care. RESULTS: A total of 188 patients, on general hospital floors and intensive care unit (ICU) settings, underwent rWGS testing. Racial and ethnic characteristics of the tested infants were broadly representative of births in the country at large. 35% of infants received a diagnostic result in a median of 6 days. The most common HPO terms for tested infants indicated an abnormality of the nervous system, followed by the cardiovascular system, the digestive system, the respiratory system and the head and neck. Providers indicated a major change in clinical management because of rWGS for 32% of infants tested overall and 70% of those with a diagnostic result. Also, 7% of infants with a negative rWGS result and 23% with a variant of unknown significance (VUS) had a major change in management due to testing. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that the implementation of rWGS is feasible across diverse institutions, and provides additional evidence to support the clinical utility of rWGS in a demographically representative sample of admitted infants and includes assessment of the clinical impact of uncertain rWGS results in addition to both positive and negative results. PMID:38440187 | PMC:PMC10909823 | DOI:10.3389/fped.2024.1349519

Clin Case Rep. 2023 Jul 30;11(8):e7753. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.7753. eCollection 2023 Aug. ABSTRACT We report two, genotypically identical but phenotypically distinct cases of Schaaf-Yang syndrome and propose the early use of Genome Sequencing in patients with nonspecific presentations to facilitate the early diagnosis of children with rare genetic diseases and improve overall health care outcomes. PMID:37529132 DOI:10.1002/ccr3.7753

Methods Mol Biol. 2023;2621:217-239. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2950-5_12. ABSTRACT Upon admission to intensive care units (ICU), the differential diagnosis of almost all infants with diseases of unclear etiology includes single locus genetic diseases. Rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS), including sample preparation, short-read sequencing-by-synthesis, informatics pipelining, and semiautomated interpretation, can now identify nucleotide and structural variants associated with most genetic diseases with robust analytic and diagnostic performance in as little as 13.5 h. Early diagnosis of genetic diseases transforms medical and surgical management of infants in ICUs, minimizing both the duration of empiric treatment and the delay to start of specific treatment. Both positive and negative rWGS tests have clinical utility and can improve outcomes. Since first described 10 years ago, rWGS has evolved considerably. Here we describe our current methods for routine diagnostic testing for genetic diseases by rWGS in as little as 18 h. PMID:37041447 DOI:10.1007/978-1-0716-2950-5_12