Case Report: A Novel Homozygous Variant in the SLX4 Gene Causes Fanconi Anemia

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disorder that affects multiple systems in the body and is the most prevalent congenital syndrome, leading to bone marrow failure. Twenty-two genes have been identified as contributors to the disease. Significant advancements have been made in the past 2 decades in understanding the genetic and pathophysiological processes involved. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is employed to diagnose rare Mendelian disorders when standard tests fail to provide a definitive pathological diagnosis. However, WES has the potential to reveal pathogenic variants that may complicate the diagnostic process. In this study, the method was chosen to examine SLX4/FANCP. The goal of our research was to suggest that the new potentially harmful genetic mutation, c.4921dup A>AC (p.Val1641GlyfsTer15), could lead to the development of FA. This patient was analyzed by performing the WES test, and a homozygous pathogenic variant in the SLX4 gene (c.4921dupA>AC - chr16-3633329-p.Val1641GlyfsTer15) was identified in this patient. The candidate variant was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The parent of the patient and the fetus of this family were also examined using Sanger sequencing, and they were determined to be carriers and heterozygous. Our research has uncovered a new form of pathogenic genetic variation in the SLX4 gene, providing new insights into the molecular causes of this condition. To date, the c.4921dup A>AC (p.Val1641GlyfsTer15) pathogenic variant has not been observed or reported worldwide. These findings could be valuable for investigating the mechanisms of FA and may offer insights for preventing, diagnosing, and managing the risks associated with this disease.