Prenatal diagnosis of Sex determining region Y -box transcription factor 2 anophthalmia syndrome caused by germline mosaicism using next-generation sequencing: A case report

Sex determining region Y box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) mutations lead to bilateral anophthalmia with autosomal dominant human inheritance. SOX2 mutations could result in severe ocular phenotypes usually associated with variable systemic defects. Most patients described with SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome possessed de novo mutations in this gene.

In this case report, we describe 2 brothers with mental retardation and bilateral anophthalmia caused due to SOX2 germline mosaicism in unaffected parents. Next-generation DNA sequencing was carried out to determine the family’s possible cause of genetic mutation. Sanger sequencing was performed on the patients and their parents. Prenatal diagnosis was done in both pregnancies of the older brother’s wife via chorionic villus sampling. A novel heterozygous pathogenic frameshift deletion variant (exon1:c.58_80del:p.G20fs) was identified in the SOX2 gene, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in both affected brothers and did not exist in healthy parents, indicating germline mosaicism.

Most SOX2 mutations known look to arise de novo in probands and are diagnosed through anophthalmia or microphthalmia. Prenatal diagnosis should be offered to healthy parents with a child with SOX2 mutation every pregnancy.