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Patients with a diverse spectrum of rare genetic disorders can present with inflammatory bowel disease (monogenic IBD). Patients with these disorders often develop symptoms during infancy or early childhood, along with endoscopic or histological features of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or IBD unclassified. Defects in interleukin-10 signaling have a Mendelian inheritance pattern with complete penetrance of intestinal inflammation. Several genetic defects that disturb intestinal epithelial barrier function or affect innate and adaptive immune function have incomplete penetrance of the IBD-like phenotype. Several of these monogenic conditions do not respond to conventional therapy and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Due to the broad spectrum of these extremely rare diseases, a correct diagnosis is frequently a challenge and often delayed. In many cases, these diseases cannot be categorized based on standard histological and immunologic features of IBD. Genetic analysis is required to identify the cause of the disorder and offer the patient appropriate treatment options, which include medical therapy, surgery, or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In addition, diagnosis based on genetic analysis can lead to genetic counseling for family members of patients. We describe key intestinal, extraintestinal, and laboratory features of 50 genetic variants associated with IBD-like intestinal inflammation. In addition, we provide approaches for identifying patients likely to have these disorders. We also discuss classic approaches to identify these variants in patients, starting with phenotypic and functional assessments that lead to analysis of candidate genes. As a complementary approach, we discuss parallel genetic screening using next-generation sequencing followed by functional confirmation of genetic defects.

Original publication

DOI

10.1053/j.gastro.2014.07.023

Type

Journal article

Journal

Gastroenterology

Publication Date

11/2014

Volume

147

Pages

990 - 1007.e3

Keywords

Crohn’s Disease, Genetics, IBD Unclassified, Immunodeficiency, Indeterminate Colitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Next-Generation Sequencing, Pediatrics, Ulcerative Colitis, Unclassified Colitis, Whole Exome Sequencing, Age of Onset, Colitis, Ulcerative, Crohn Disease, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Testing, Humans, Phenotype, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Risk Factors