Clinical genetics evaluation in identifying the etiology of autism spectrum disorders: 2013 guideline revisions.
General
Guideline Title
Clinical genetics evaluation in identifying the etiology of autism spectrum disorders: 2013 guideline revisions.
Bibliographic Source(s)
- Schaefer GB, Mendelsohn NJ, Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee. Clinical genetics evaluation in identifying the etiology of autism spectrum disorders: 2013 guideline revisions. Genet Med. 2013 May;15(5):399-407. [76 references] PubMed
Guideline Status
This is the current release of the guideline.
This guideline updates a previous version: Schaefer GB, Mendelsohn NJ. Genetics evaluation for the etiologic diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Genet Med 2008;10:4–12.
Recommendations
Major Recommendations
The Diagnostic Process
- Accurate diagnosis . It is critical that an accurate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) be made before initiating the genetic evaluation. All patients with ASDs should have a formal audiogram to rule out a significant hearing loss.
- Role of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) . Every individual with an ASD should have a designated primary-care medical home. Often, the primary care physician will be the first professional to raise the question of ASD as a possible diagnosis. After clinical genetics consultation, the primary care physician and the clinical geneticist should be prepared to partner in ordering, scheduling, and coordinating recommended diagnostic tests.
- Referral for clinical genetics evaluation . A genetic consultation should be offered to all persons/families with ASDs. Evaluations should be considered for any individual along the entire ASDs spectrum. The referring professional should discuss expectations and possible outcomes of such an evaluation before making the referral. The referring professional should be aware of what is involved in such a consultation and the potential diagnostic yields and should share this information with the patient/family.
- Tiered evaluation . The clinical genetic evaluation of an individual with an ASD must be customized to the clinical situation. A patient may be referred to the geneticist with the goal of confirming a specific diagnosis that is being considered. Alternatively, a syndromic diagnosis may be apparent to the geneticist in the initial visit. In either case, the diagnosis should be confirmed using accepted clinical criteria and/or laboratory testing (if available). Many recognizable syndromes have a firmly documented association with ASDs. For these conditions, further investigation into the etiology of the ASD is unnecessary (see Table 5 in the original guideline document).
There are, however, genetic conditions that have been reported in association with ASDs for which the reported association is not convincing. For patients with these conditions, it is recommended that an etiologic evaluation of the ASD be undertaken as an independent process (see Table 6 in the original guideline document). If the clinical geneticist does not identify a specific disorder in the initial evaluation, further testing can be accomplished as outlined in the table below.
- Genetic counseling . Upon completion of the clinical genetics evaluation, two groups of individuals will have been identified: those with and those without an identifiable etiology. Genetic counseling should be provided to both groups. For those without an identifiable etiology, counseling should be provided using empiric recurrence-risk data. The accepted published recurrence risk for full siblings is approximately 3%–10%—although newer studies are suggesting that this risk may be higher. Modified for sex, the risks are 7% if the affected child is female and 4% if the affected child is male. If there are multiple children (two or more) with ASDs, published reports would predict at least a 30% recurrence risk.
- Treatment and follow-up . Clinical geneticists differ greatly in their practice as to their involvement with patients after completion of diagnostic consultations. Management and treatment plans depend on specific etiologic diagnoses. Such cases are often comanaged by agreement by the clinical geneticist and the primary care physician. Changes in technology and in phenotypes often aid in ultimately obtaining a diagnosis in patients for whom a diagnosis is not initially established. Thus, periodic reevaluations should be considered for patients in whom a definitive etiology is not initially discovered. The timing of interval follow-up consultations should be negotiated among the patient/family, the PCMH, and the medical geneticist.
Table: Template for the Clinical Genetic Diagnostic Evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder
First Tier
|
Second Tier
|
a DNA testing for fragile X in females if indicators present (e.g., family history and phenotype).
Clinical Algorithm(s)
None provided
Scope
Disease/Condition(s)
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), including:
- Autistic disorder
- Asperger syndrome
- Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
Guideline Category
- Counseling
- Diagnosis
- Evaluation
- Technology Assessment
Clinical Specialty
- Family Practice
- Medical Genetics
- Pediatrics
Intended Users
- Physicians
Guideline Objective(s)
- To assist the clinician in the consideration of the following:
- Ensuring an accurate diagnosis of autism before proceeding with any investigation
- Discussing testing options, diagnostic yields, and family investment before proceeding with an evaluation
- Communicating and coordinating with the patient-centered medical home (PCMH)
- Assessing the continuously expanding and evolving list of available laboratory-testing modalities in light of the published literature
- Recognizing the expanded phenotypes of well-described syndromic and metabolic conditions that overlap with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
- Defining an individualized evaluation plan based on the unique history and clinical features of a given patient
- To outline a tiered evaluation of the etiology of ASDs based on current evidence
Target Population
All patients and families with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
Interventions and Practices Considered
- Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including audiogram
- Patient-centered medical home (PCMH), with primary care physician partnered with clinical geneticist
- Referral for clinical genetics evaluation, with discussion of expectations and possible outcomes of the evaluation
- Tiered, or stepwise, clinical genetics evaluation customized to individual patient * Diagnosis confirmed by clinical criteria and/or laboratory testing * Further testing if specific disorder is not identified
- Genetic counseling with recurrent risk data
- Follow-up
Major Outcomes Considered
- Recurrence risk
- Risks and benefits of genetic testing
- Cost
- Practicality
- Expected yield
Methodology
Methods Used to Collect/Select the Evidence
- Searches of Electronic Databases
Description of Methods Used to Collect/Select the Evidence
The guideline authors searched the following databases: PubMed, Autism database, Autism Genetic Database (University of Kansas), and SFARI Gene for a time period of over 13 months. Databases were searched back to 1960. The search terms used were: Autism AND Genetics, Familial, Recurrence risk, Epidemiology, MECP2, PTEN, UBE3a, Angelman, Mitochondria(l), Cytogenetics, CMA/CGH/microarray, Testing, Linkage, Metabolic, Smith-Lemli-Opitz, Cholesterol, MRI, Neuroimaging, Brain, Teratogen/environment, and Perinatal/neonatal risk factors.
These searches yielded over 1,000 articles; from these, 285 were selected to read.
Number of Source Documents
76 articles
Methods Used to Assess the Quality and Strength of the Evidence
- Not stated
Rating Scheme for the Strength of the Evidence
Not applicable
Methods Used to Analyze the Evidence
- Review
Description of the Methods Used to Analyze the Evidence
Not stated
Methods Used to Formulate the Recommendations
- Not stated
Rating Scheme for the Strength of the Recommendations
Not applicable
Cost Analysis
A formal cost analysis was not performed and published cost analyses were not reviewed.
Method of Guideline Validation
- Not stated
Description of Method of Guideline Validation
Not applicable
Evidence Supporting the Recommendations
Type of Evidence Supporting the Recommendations
The type of evidence supporting the recommendations is not specifically stated.
Benefits/Harms of Implementing the Guideline Recommendations
Potential Benefits
Appropriate evaluation of the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)
Potential Harms
It has been argued that cost and the logistics of sedation make neuroimaging studies too risky for the yield. It has been suggested that multiple sedations at an early age are associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Qualifying Statements
Qualifying Statements
This guideline is designed primarily as an educational resource for clinicians to help them provide quality medical services. Adherence to this guideline is completely voluntary and does not necessarily assure a successful medical outcome. This guideline should not be considered inclusive of all proper procedures and tests or exclusive of other procedures and tests that are reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. In determining the propriety of any specific procedure or test, the clinician should apply his or her own professional judgment to the specific clinical circumstances presented by the individual patient or specimen. Clinicians are encouraged to document the reasons for the use of a particular procedure or test, whether or not it is in conformance with this guideline. Clinicians also are advised to take notice of the date this guideline was adopted and to consider other medical and scientific information that becomes available after that date. It also would be prudent to consider whether intellectual-property interests may restrict the performance of certain tests and other procedures.
Implementation of the Guideline
Description of Implementation Strategy
An implementation strategy was not provided.
Institute of Medicine (IOM) National Healthcare Quality Report Categories
IOM Care Need
- Living with Illness
IOM Domain
- Effectiveness
- Patient-centeredness
Identifying Information and Availability
Bibliographic Source(s)
- Schaefer GB, Mendelsohn NJ, Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee. Clinical genetics evaluation in identifying the etiology of autism spectrum disorders: 2013 guideline revisions. Genet Med. 2013 May;15(5):399-407. [76 references] PubMed
Adaptation
Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.
Date Released
2008 (revised 2013 May)
Guideline Developer(s)
- American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics - Professional Association
Source(s) of Funding
American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics
Guideline Committee
Professional Practice and Guidelines Committee
Composition of Group That Authored the Guideline
Authors : G. Bradley Schaefer, MD, Department of Genetics and Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Nancy J. Mendelsohn, MD, Division of Medical Genetics, Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Financial Disclosures/Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Guideline Status
This is the current release of the guideline.
This guideline updates a previous version: Schaefer GB, Mendelsohn NJ. Genetics evaluation for the etiologic diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Genet Med 2008;10:4–12.
Guideline Availability
Available from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Web site.
Availability of Companion Documents
None available
Patient Resources
None available
NGC Status
This NGC summary was completed by ECRI Institute on November 19, 2013. This summary was updated by ECRI Institute on February 15, 2017 following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory on general anesthetic and sedation drugs.
Copyright Statement
This NGC summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer’s copyright restrictions.
Disclaimer
NGC Disclaimer
The National Guideline Clearinghouse™ (NGC) does not develop, produce, approve, or endorse the guidelines represented on this site.
All guidelines summarized by NGC and hosted on our site are produced under the auspices of medical specialty societies, relevant professional associations, public or private organizations, other government agencies, health care organizations or plans, and similar entities.
Guidelines represented on the NGC Web site are submitted by guideline developers, and are screened solely to determine that they meet the NGC Inclusion Criteria.
NGC, AHRQ, and its contractor ECRI Institute make no warranties concerning the content or clinical efficacy or effectiveness of the clinical practice guidelines and related materials represented on this site. Moreover, the views and opinions of developers or authors of guidelines represented on this site do not necessarily state or reflect those of NGC, AHRQ, or its contractor ECRI Institute, and inclusion or hosting of guidelines in NGC may not be used for advertising or commercial endorsement purposes.
Readers with questions regarding guideline content are directed to contact the guideline developer.