The intellectual disabilities evaluation and advice system (IDEAS): outcome of the first 55 cases

IDEAS (intellectual disabilities evaluation and advice system) provides the opportunity for physicians who are sending samples for the Greenwood Genetic Center (GGC) 92-gene X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) (formerly X-linked mental retardation) panel to have their male patient's clinical features reviewed by an experienced panel of six Clinical Geneticists. They were asked to obtain parental consent, complete a one-page information form, and provide A-P and lateral photographs. The panel members independently reviewed the material and forwarded comments about clinical features, possible diagnoses, and/or further testing for the patient. We present the results of the first 55 patients evaluated. In only a single case did all panelists agree on a non-XLID diagnosis, later proven by genetic testing. The XLID gene panel diagnosed an additional five (9%) cases, but in only two cases did one panelist suggest the correct gene, which was one of four they suggested. This paper examines the possible reasons for the low rate of clinical diagnosis and suggests that, while the data received were often incomplete, the most important reasons for lack of diagnoses were the source of referral and selection of patients for review. We did note that there were a number of instances where we disagreed with the submitted information as to whether the individual was dysmorphic and with the stated presence of certain physical signs, most often downslanted palpebrae and posterior ear angulation. These differences in assessment of clinical signs and the general lack of completeness and detail provided in the standard data sheet, including that regarding the extended family history, lead us to raise concerns regarding the feasibility of establishing high quality central clinical databases designed to aid in the interpretation of exomic/genomic variants.