Advancing precision care in pregnancy through an actionable fetal findings list

The use of genomic sequencing (GS) for prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with sonographic abnormalities has grown tremendously over the past decade. Fetal GS also offers an opportunity to identify incidental genomic variants that are unrelated to the fetal phenotype, but may be relevant to fetal and newborn health. There are currently no guidelines for reporting incidental findings from fetal GS.

In the United States, GS for adults and children is recommended to include a list of “secondary findings” genes (ACMG SF v3.2) that are associated with disorders for which surveillance or treatment can reduce morbidity and mortality. The genes on ACMG SF v3.2 predominantly cause adult-onset disorders. Importantly, many genetic disorders with fetal and infantile onset are actionable as well.

A proposed solution is to create a “fetal actionable findings list,” which can be offered to pregnant patients undergoing fetal GS or eventually, as a standalone cell-free fetal DNA screening test. In this integrative review, we propose criteria for an actionable fetal findings list, then identify genetic disorders with clinically available or emerging fetal therapies, and those for which clinical detection in the first week of life might lead to improved outcomes. Finally, we synthesize the potential benefits, limitations, and risks of an actionable fetal findings list.