ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a fetus with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). METHODS: Prenatal ultrasonography has revealed oligohydramnios and abnormal structure of fetal kidneys. After careful counseling, the couple opted induced abortion. With informed consent, genomic DNA was extracted from the muscle sample of the abortus and peripheral blood samples of the couple. High throughput whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect potential variants in relation with the disease. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound revealed increased size of fetal kidneys, with multiple hyperechos from the right kidney, and multiple hyperechos with anechoic masses within the left kidney. DNA sequencing revealed that the fetus has carried heterozygous variants of the PKHD1 gene, including c.7994T>C inherited from its father, and two heterozygous variants of the PKHD1 gene c.5681G>A from its mother. CONCLUSION: The compound heterozygous c.7994T>C and c.5681G>A variants of the PKHD1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of ARPKD in this fetus. Above results can provide guidance for subsequent pregnancies of the couple.
