MedGen

Warfarin is an oral anti-coagulant used world-wide to treat and prevent thrombotic disorders. While it is highly effective, it has a very narrow therapeutic index making it difficult to dose correctly. Genetic variants in cytochrome P450-2C9 (CYP2C9), vitamin K-epoxide reductase complex (VKORC1), cytochrome P450-CYP4F2 (CYP4F2) and the CYP2C cluster (eg. rs12777823), along with non-genetic factors, are known to affect warfarin dose variability. Patients with specific variants in the gene CYP2C9 (the primary warfarin-metabolizing enzyme) may require a lower dose of warfarin as compared to patients without these variants. Patients with specific variants in VKORC1 (the target enzyme of warfarin) may require a lower warfarin dose as compared to patients who do not have these variants. The combination of CYP2C9/VKORC1/CYP4F2/CYP2C genetic variants, along with clinical factors, can put some patients at risk for therapeutic failure or adverse events such as bleeding. Guidelines regarding the use of pharmacogenomic tests in dosing for warfarin have been published in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) and are available on the CPIC and PharmGKB websites. [from PharmGKB]

Any migraine disorder in which the cause of the disease is a mutation in the KCNK18 gene. [from MONDO]

Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin with a role in promoting the coagulation cascade. [from HPO]

Abetalipoproteinemia typically presents in infancy with failure to thrive, diarrhea, vomiting, and malabsorption of fat. Hematologic manifestations may include acanthocytosis (irregularly spiculated erythrocytes), anemia, reticulocytosis, and hemolysis with resultant hyperbilirubinemia. Malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) can result in an increased international normalized ratio (INR). Untreated individuals may develop atypical pigmentation of the retina that may present with progressive loss of night vision and/or color vision in adulthood. Neuromuscular findings in untreated individuals including progressive loss of deep tendon reflexes, vibratory sense, and proprioception; muscle weakness; dysarthria; and ataxia typically manifest in the first or second decades of life. [from GeneReviews]

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rare progressive disease characterized by increased pulmonary artery pressure in the absence of common causes of pulmonary hypertension, such as chronic heart, lung, or thromboembolic disease. There is often vascular remodeling. The clinical presentation can be nonspecific, and patients often receive a diagnosis late in their clinical course (summary by Ma et al., 2013). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of primary pulmonary hypertension, see PPH1 (178600). [from OMIM]

The concentration of vitamin K in the blood circulation is below the lower limit of normal. [from HPO]

Deficiency of all vitamin K-dependent clotting factors leads to a bleeding tendency that is usually reversed by oral administration of vitamin K. Familial multiple coagulation factor deficiency is rare. Clinical symptoms of the disease include episodes of intracranial hemorrhage in the first weeks of life, sometimes leading to a fatal outcome (Fregin et al., 2002). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of combined deficiency of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, see VKCFD1 (277450). [from OMIM]

The signs and symptoms of PFIC2 are typically related to liver disease only; however, these signs and symptoms tend to be more severe than those experienced by people with PFIC1. People with PFIC2 often develop liver failure within the first few years of life. Additionally, affected individuals are at increased risk of developing a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma.

In addition to signs and symptoms related to liver disease, people with PFIC1 may have short stature, deafness, diarrhea, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), and low levels of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) in the blood. Affected individuals typically develop liver failure before adulthood.

There are three known types of PFIC: PFIC1, PFIC2, and PFIC3. The types are also sometimes described as shortages of particular proteins needed for normal liver function. Each type has a different genetic cause.

Signs and symptoms of PFIC typically begin in infancy and are related to bile buildup and liver disease. Specifically, affected individuals experience severe itching, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), failure to gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive), high blood pressure in the vein that supplies blood to the liver (portal hypertension), and an enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly).

Most people with PFIC3 have signs and symptoms related to liver disease only. Signs and symptoms of PFIC3 usually do not appear until later in infancy or early childhood; rarely, people are diagnosed in early adulthood. Liver failure can occur in childhood or adulthood in people with PFIC3.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a disorder that causes progressive liver disease, which typically leads to liver failure. In people with PFIC, liver cells are less able to secrete a digestive fluid called bile. The buildup of bile in liver cells causes liver disease in affected individuals. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

Increased plasma vitamin K epoxide after vitamin K supplementation is present in VKCFD (vitamin K-dependent clotting factor deficiency) type 2, but not in VKCFD type 1. [from HPO]

KCNK9 imprinting syndrome is characterized by congenital central hypotonia (manifest as decreased movement, lethargy, and weak cry), severe feeding difficulties (resulting from facial weakness and poor suck), delayed development/intellectual disability, and dysmorphic manifestations. Poor feeding can cause failure to thrive during infancy unless managed appropriately. Significant dysphagia of solid foods typically persists until puberty. Intellectual disability can be severe. To date 19 individuals with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis have been reported. [from GeneReviews]

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and cancer of the head and neck. Cetuximab is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist, which works by blocking the growth of cancer cells. It is administered as a weekly intravenous (IV) infusion, but in practice, is often given every other week to coincide with chemotherapy (for example, FOLFIRI or FOLFOX). Cetuximab has several off-label uses as well, which include non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and Menetrier’s disease. Interestingly, for colorectal cancer, the location of the primary tumor influences whether an individual with mCRC will respond to anti-EGFR therapy, and influences prognosis. Individuals with left-sided tumors are more likely to respond well to anti-EGFR therapy and have a better prognosis. Individuals with right-sided tumors have a worse prognosis and respond poorly to anti-EGFR therapy. However, currently only the mutation status of the tumor, and not the location of the tumor, is discussed in the drug label’s dosing recommendations. Resistance to cetuximab is associated with specific RAS mutations. The RAS family of oncogenes includes the KRAS and NRAS genes. When mutated, these genes have the ability to transform normal cells into cancerous cells. The KRAS mutations are particularly common, being detectable in 40% of metastatic colorectal tumors. The KRAS mutations often lead to constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and are associated with resistance to anti-EGFR drugs such as cetuximab. In addition, mutations in NRAS and another gene, BRAF, have been associated with poor response to anti-EGFR therapy; however, BRAF mutation does not explicitly preclude anti-EGFR therapy. Combination therapies targeting both BRAF and EGFR have shown to improve survival for individuals with wild-type RAS and mutant BRAF. The 2018 FDA-approved drug label for cetuximab states that for mCRC, cetuximab is indicated for K- and N-RAS wild-type (no mutation), EGFR-expressing tumors. The label states that an FDA-approved test must be used to confirm the absence of a RAS mutation (in either KRAS or NRAS) prior to starting cetuximab. While the FDA label also states that EGFR expression should also be confirmed by an approved test prior to starting therapy for mCRC, this is largely not implemented in practice, nor is it recommended by professional oncology society guidelines. Similarly, the 2015 Update from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) states that anti-EGFR therapy should only be considered for the treatment of individuals whose tumor is determined to not have mutations detected after extended RAS testing. The 2020 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline also strongly recommends KRAS/NRAS genotyping of tumor tissue in all individuals with mCRC. In addition, the guideline states the V600E mutation in the BRAF gene makes a response to cetuximab (and panitumumab) highly unlikely unless given a BRAF inhibitor. [from Medical Genetics Summaries]

Lipoprotein(a) is a macromolecular complex in human plasma which represents a quantitative genetic trait with a heritability of 0.7 or higher. Lipoprotein(a) is composed of an LDL-like particle in which apoB (107730) is covalently bound by a single disulfide bond to apolipoprotein(a). Apo(a) has been demonstrated to be the main determinant of the quantitative Lp(a) trait. Variation in the number of plasminogen (PLG)-like kringle (K) IV type 2 tandem repeats in the apo(a) gene is inversely correlated to Lp(a) plasma levels in all populations studied. Several polymorphisms in the Lp(a) gene have been found to affect the apo(a) concentration level (summary by Ogorelkova et al., 1999). [from OMIM]

Zellweger syndrome (ZS) is an autosomal recessive multiple congenital anomaly syndrome resulting from disordered peroxisome biogenesis. Affected children present in the newborn period with profound hypotonia, seizures, and inability to feed. Characteristic craniofacial anomalies, eye abnormalities, neuronal migration defects, hepatomegaly, and chondrodysplasia punctata are present. Children with this condition do not show any significant development and usually die in the first year of life (summary by Steinberg et al., 2006). For a complete phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of Zellweger syndrome, see 214100. Individuals with PBDs of complementation group K (CGK) have mutations in the PEX14 gene. For information on the history of PBD complementation groups, see 214100. [from OMIM]

Autosomal dominant form of chondrodysplasia punctata. [from MONDO]

Familial hypercholanemia-1 (FHCA1) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by elevated concentrations of bile acids (usually conjugated), itching, and fat malabsorption, leading to poor overall growth and deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins. Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets, and vitamin K deficiency results in a coagulopathy (Morton et al., 2000; Shneider et al., 1997; summary by Carlton et al., 2003). See also bile acid conjugation defect-1 (BACD1; 619232), which can also show increased bile acid levels, although the bile acids in BACD1 are unconjugated. Genetic Heterogeneity of FHCA See FHCA2 (619256), caused by mutation in the SLC10A1 gene (182396) on chromosome 14q24. [from OMIM]

Congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2 is a disorder characterized by cholestasis, a condition that impairs the production and release of a digestive fluid called bile from liver cells. Bile is used during digestion to absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. People with congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2 cannot produce (synthesize) bile acids, which are a component of bile that stimulate bile flow and help it absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins. As a result, an abnormal form of bile is produced.

The signs and symptoms of congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2 often develop in infancy. Affected infants usually have a failure to gain weight and grow at the expected rate (failure to thrive) and yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) due to impaired bile flow and a buildup of partially formed bile. Excess fat in the feces (steatorrhea) is another feature of congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2. As the condition progresses, affected individuals can develop liver abnormalities including inflammation or chronic liver disease (cirrhosis). Some individuals with congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2 cannot absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins, which can result in softening and weakening of the bones (rickets) or problems with blood clotting that lead to prolonged bleeding.

If left untreated, congenital bile acid synthesis defect type 2 typically leads to cirrhosis and death in childhood. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

Overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis is a variably compensated macrocytic hemolytic anemia of fluctuating severity, characterized by circulating erythrocytes with slit-like lucencies (stomata) evident on peripheral blood smears. OHST red cells exhibit cation leak, resulting in elevated cell Na+ content with reduced K+ content, with increased ouabain-resistant cation leak fluxes in the presence of presumably compensatory increases in ouabain-sensitive Na(+)-K(+) ATPase activity, and red cell age-dependent loss of stomatin/EBP7.2 (EBP72; 133090) from the erythroid membrane. Clinically, patients with OHST exhibit overhydrated erythrocytes and a temperature-dependent red cell cation leak. The temperature dependence of the leak is 'monotonic' and has a steep slope, reflecting the very large leak at 37 degrees centigrade (summary by Bruce, 2009 and Stewart et al., 2011). For a discussion of clinical and genetic heterogeneity of the hereditary stomatocytoses, see 194380. [from OMIM]

Deficiency of all vitamin K-dependent clotting factors leads to a bleeding tendency that is usually reversed by oral administration of vitamin K. Acquired forms of the disorder can be caused by intestinal malabsorption of vitamin K. Familial multiple coagulation factor deficiency is rare. Clinical symptoms of the disease include episodes of intracranial hemorrhage in the first weeks of life, sometimes leading to a fatal outcome. The pathomechanism is based on a reduced hepatic gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues of all vitamin K-dependent blood coagulation factors, as well as the anticoagulant factors protein C (612283) and protein S (176880). Posttranslational gamma-carboxylation of proteins enables the calcium-dependent attachment of the proteins to the phospholipid bilayer of membranes, an essential prerequisite for blood coagulation. Vitamin K1 acts as a cofactor for the vitamin K-dependent carboxylase in liver microsomes, GGCX. Genetic Heterogeneity of Combined Deficiency of Vitamin K-Dependent Clotting Factors Combined deficiency of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors-2 (VKFCD2; 607473) is caused by mutation in the gene encoding vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1; 608547) on chromosome 16p11. [from OMIM]

Chylomicron retention disease (CMRD), characterized by the inability to secrete chylomicrons from the enterocytes following the ingestion of fat, typically presents in infancy with failure to thrive, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and malabsorption of fat. This leads to steatorrhea – the severity of which relates to the fat content of the diet – and in some cases, hepatomegaly. Organ systems outside of the gastrointestinal tract may also be affected (often due to malnutrition and deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins), including neuromuscular abnormalities (typically in the first or second decade of life) secondary to vitamin E deficiency, poor bone mineralization and delayed bone maturation due to vitamin D deficiency, prolonged international normalized ratio (INR) due to vitamin K deficiency, mild ophthalmologic issues (e.g., micronystagmus, delayed dark adaptation, abnormal visual evoked potentials, and abnormal scotopic electroretinograms), and (in a small proportion of adults) cardiomyopathy with decreased ejection fraction. Affected individuals typically have marked hypocholesterolemia, low plasma apolipoprotein B levels, normal-to-low plasma triglyceride levels, and low serum concentrations of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K). Endoscopy typically demonstrates a gelée blanche ("white hoar frosting") appearance of the duodenal mucosa. [from GeneReviews]