Impacts of variants of uncertain significance on parental perceptions of children after prenatal chromosome microarray testing. (24th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Desai, Preeya; Haber, Hannah; Bulafka, Jessica; Russell, Amita; Clifton, Rebecca; Zachary, Julia; Lee, Seonjoo; Feng, Tianshu; Wapner, Ronald; Monk, Catherine; Chung, Wendy K.
• Is Part Of: Prenatal diagnosis. Volume 38:Number 10(2018)
• Page Start: 740
• Page End: 747
• Publication Date: 2018-07-24
• Subjects: Prenatal diagnosis -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.32075
• DOI: 10.1002/pd.5323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0197-3851

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: There are concerns regarding the potential harms in receipt of prenatal chromosome microarray (CMA) results, particularly variants of uncertain significance (VUS). We examined the influence that the return of genomic results had on parental well‐being and perceptions of children's development. Methods: Parents (n = 138) of 83 children who underwent prenatal chromosomal microarray testing completed questionnaires assessing perception of children's development, parent‐child attachment, parental mood, parenting competence, martial satisfaction, satisfaction with the decision to undergo testing, and attitudes about genetics at age 12 and/or 36 months. Responses were compared between parents who received normal/likely benign results and VUS results. Results: Compared to normal/likely benign results, parents who received VUS results rated their child as less competent on the BITSEA scale at 12 ( β = −1.65, P = .04) though not 36 months ( P = .43). There were no differences in parent mood, marital satisfaction, or parenting competence. At 36 months, parents in the VUS group reported less satisfaction with their decision to undergo genetic testing ( β = 1.51, P = .02). Conclusion: Chromosome microarray VUS results have limited impact on parental well‐being and perception of children's development. However, the initial diminished perception of child competency and later dissatisfaction with genomic testing indicate the need to assist parents in coping with ambiguous results. Abstract : What's already known about this topic? Studies have examined parental perspectives of prenatal chromosome microarray (CMA) testing, and how the CMA results received affect parental stress, mood, and anxiety. What does this study add? This study assesses prenatal CMA testing in relation to parental perceptions of child outcomes up to children at age 36 months old. Little research has investigated the impact of individual genomic results on parental perceptions of children's behavior and health beyond early infancy.