Not just a carrier: Clinical presentation and management of patients with heterozygous disease‐causing alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) variants identified through expanded carrier screening

• Published in: Molecular genetics & genomic medicine 2023-01, Vol.11 (1), p.e2056-n/a
• Main Authors: Beck, Natalie M., Sagaser, Katelynn G., Lawson, Cathleen S., Hertenstein, Christine, Jachens, Ashley, Forster, Katherine R., Miller, Kristen A., Jelin, Angie C., Blakemore, Karin J., Hoover‐Fong, Julie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Alkaline phosphatase; Alkaline Phosphatase - genetics; ALPL; Bone (long); carrier screening; Chronic pain; Enzymes; Families & family life; FDA approval; Fractures; Genetic counseling; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act 2008-US; Genetic screening; genetic testing; Genetics; Health risks; Heterozygote; Heterozygotes; Humans; Hypophosphatasia; Hypophosphatasia - diagnosis; Hypophosphatasia - genetics; incidental diagnosis; Infertility; Laboratories; Metabolism; Mineralization; Mutation; Osteoporosis; Patients; Personal health; Phosphatase; Retrospective Studies; Risk assessment; Trauma
• ISSN: 2324-9269; 2324-9269
• DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2056

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an underrecognized, complex bone mineralization disorder with variable manifestations caused by one or two deleterious variants in the alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) gene. Expanded carrier screening (ECS), inclusive of ALPL, intends to inform reproductive risk but may incidentally reveal an HPP diagnosis with 50% familial risks. We sought to investigate at‐risk individuals and develop a multidisciplinary referral and evaluation protocol for ECS‐identified ALPL heterozygosity. A retrospective database query of ECS results from 8 years to 1 month for heterozygous pathogenic/likely pathogenic ALPL variants was completed. We implemented a clinical protocol for diagnostic testing and imaging, counseling, and interdisciplinary care management for identified patients, and outcomes were documented. Heterozygous ALPL variants were identified in 12/2248 unrelated patients undergoing ECS (0.53%; heterozygote frequency 1/187). Of 10 individuals successfully contacted, all demonstrated symptomatology and/or alkaline phosphatase values consistent with HPP. ECS may reveal incidental health risks, including recognition of missed HPP diagnoses in ALPL heterozygotes. In our cohort, all ECS‐identified ALPL heterozygotes with clinical and/or biochemical data available demonstrated features of HPP. Referral to a genetics professional familiar with HPP is indicated for family history assessment, genetic counseling, cascade testing, and long‐term bone health management. This work describes our cross‐disciplinary experience identifying and evaluating 12 patients for clinical, biochemical, and familial features of Hypophosphatasia (HPP) from a retrospective database review of expanded carrier screening (ECS) results in our center. Completion of clinical questionnaire and in‐person evaluations of 10/12 ECS‐identified ALPL heterozygotes revealed all had features consistent with HPP. This is particularly poignant for those providers in OB/GYN and Maternal‐Fetal Medicine settings who are facing incidentally diagnostic ECS results in seemingly healthy adults pursuing ECS for reproductive risk assessment, as persons with HPP have unique bone health management needs.