Genomic testing identifies monogenic causes in patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease: a multicenter survey in an Iranian cohort

Abstract

Patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) may present because of underlying monogenic inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Strong differences have been observed in the causes of monogenic IBD among ethnic populations. This multicenter study was carried out on 16 Iranian patients with VEO-IBD. We reviewed clinical and basic immunologic evaluation including flow cytometry and immunoglobulin levels. All patients underwent clinical whole exome sequencing (WES). Sixteen patients (8 females and 8 males) with a median age of 43.5 months were enrolled. The median age at the onset of symptoms was 4 months. Most patients (12, 75) had consanguineous parents. Chronic non-bloody diarrhea (13, 81.3) and perianal diseases including perianal abscess (6, 37.5), anal fissure (6, 37.5), or anal fistula (2, 12.5) were the most common manifestations. WES identified a spectrum of genetic variants in 13 patients (81.3): IL10RB (6, 37.5), MVK (3, 18.8), and CASP8, SLC35C1, G6PC3, and IKBKB in 1 patient, respectively. In 3 patients (18.7), no variant was identified. Flow cytometry identified a spectrum of abnormalities that helped to assess the evidence of genetic diagnosis. At the end of the survey, 3 (18.8) patients were deceased. This high rate of monogenic defects with a broad spectrum of genes reiterates the importance of investigating IEI in patients with infantile-onset IBD. Patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) may present because of underlying monogenic inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Strong differences have been observed in the causes of monogenic IBD among ethnic populations. The high rate of monogenic defects with a broad spectrum of genes reiterates the importance of investigating IEI in patients with infantile-onset IBD. Graphical Abstract