A novel variant of the SOX10 gene associated with Waardenburg syndrome type IV

Background: Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss and accumulated pigmentation in the skin, hair and iris. The syndrome is classified into four types (WS1, WS2, WS3, and WS4), each with different clinical phenotypes and underlying genetic causes. The aim of this study was to identify the pathogenic variant in a Chinese family with Waardenburg syndrome type IV.

Methods: The patient and his parents underwent a thorough medical examination. We applied whole exome sequencing to identify the causal variant on the patient and other family members.

Results: The patient presented with iris pigmentary abnormality, congenital megacolon and sensorineural hearing loss. The clinical diagnosis of the patient was WS4. The whole exome sequencing (WES) revealed a novel variant (c.452_456dup) in the SOX10 gene, which could be responsible for the observed pathogenic of WS4 in this patient. Our analysis suggests that this variant produces a truncated protein that contributes to the development of the disease. The genetic test confirmed the diagnosis of WS4 in the patient from the studied pedigree.

Conclusions: This present study demonstrated that genetic test based on WES, an effective alternative to regular clinical examinations, helps diagnose WS4. The newly identified SOX10 gene variant can expand the understanding of WS4.