Comprehensive Approach for the Genetic Diagnosis of Patients with Waardenburg Syndrome

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a common genetic cause of syndromic hearing loss, accounting for 2-5% of congenital cases. It is characterized by hearing impairment and pigmentation abnormalities in the skin, hair, and eyes. Seven genes are associated with WS: PAX3, MITF, EDNRB, EDN3, SOX10, KITLG, and SNAI2. This study investigates the genetic causes of WS in three familial cases. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to identify single nucleotide variants (SNVs). Copy number variants (CNVs) were analyzed from the WES raw data and through multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). The study identified one pathogenic SNV and two novel CNVs, corresponding to type I and type II WS patterns in the three families. The SNV, a nonsense variant (c.1198C>T p.Arg400*), was found in MITF and segregated in the affected father. The two CNVs were a deletion of exon 5 in PAX3 in a family with two affected members and a large novel deletion comprising seven genes, including SOX10, in a family with three affected members. These findings confirmed a WS diagnosis through genetic testing. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating multiple genetic testing approaches for accurate and reliable diagnosis, highlighting their role in improving patient management and providing tailored genetic counseling.