The genetic etiology of atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is unknown in 40% cases. Conventional sequencing and arrays have identified the etiology in only a minority of non-syndromic individuals with AVSD.
Whole exome sequencing was performed in 81 unrelated probands with AVSD to identify potentially causal variants in a comprehensive set of 112 genes with strong biological relevance to AVSD.
A significant enrichment of rare and rare/damaging variants was identified in the gene set, compared with controls (odds ratio 1.52, 95% confidence interval 1.35–1.71, p = 4.8 x 10 -11). The enrichment was specific to AVSD probands compared with a non-AVSD cohort with tetralogy of Fallot (odds ratio 2.25, 95% confidence interval 1.84-2.76, p = 2.2 x 10 -16). Six genes ( NIPBL, CHD7, CEP152, BMPR1a, ZFPM2 and MDM4) were enriched for rare variants in AVSD compared to controls, including three syndrome-associated genes ( NIPBL, CHD7, CEP152). The findings were confirmed in a replication cohort of 81 AVSD probands.