Description

IBMFS-RD are a heterogeneous group of rare diseases resulting in significant morbidity and early mortality. These syndromes are individually and collectively rare (affecting <1 per 10,000 people) and a significant proportion are unexplained by mutations in known genes. Whilst rare, these familial conditions are also likely underdiagnosed due to their relatively recent description and also due to lack of accessible genomic testing.

For patients with clinically suspected IBMFS-RD, receiving a genomic diagnosis is critical

to

• Establish a precise and reliable diagnosis (including distinguishing a monogenic aetiology from more common acquired or autoimmune causes of bone marrow failure which have dramatically different treatments (e.g. immunosuppression)
• Inform prognosis, clinical course, optimal treatment choice and screening for non-haematological organ dysfunction
• Optimise allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) chemotherapy conditioning and minimise regimen-related toxicity
• Inform risk-benefit analysis of performing allogeneic HSCT to potentially prioritise other therapies (including novel gene therapy strategies)
• Avoiding the catastrophe of HSCT donation from occult genetically affected relatives
• Provide counselling (including stem cell donor counselling) and offer genetic testing for potentially affected family members
• Provide accurate reproductive counselling and reproductive options to affected individuals

This study aims to provide WGS and WTS to a national cohort of patients with IBMFS-RD to determine diagnostic rate, health economic impact, health implementation challenges and other exploratory endpoints.