Actionability Assertions

Gene Condition (MONDO ID) OMIM ID Final Assertion
TSC1 N/A (0001734) 191100 Assertion Pending
TSC2 N/A (0001734) 613254 Assertion Pending

Actionability Assertion Rationale

  • This topic was initially scored prior to development of the process for making actionability assertions. The Actionability Working Group decided to defer making an assertion until after the topic could be reviewed through the update process.

Actionability Scores

Outcome / Intervention Pair Severity Likelihood Effectiveness Nature of Intervention Total Score
SEGA development / mTOR inhibitor treatment 2 2N 2B 2 8NB
Morbidity and mortality from masses / Imaging to detect masses when intervention is effective 2 3N 2B 3 10NB
LAM development in women / mTOR inhibitor treatment 2 2N 2B 2 8NB
View scoring key
Domain of Actionability Scoring Metric State of the Knowledgebase
Severity: What is the nature of the threat to health to an individual? 3 = Sudden death as a reasonably possible outcome
2 = Reasonable possibility of death or major morbidity
1 = Modest morbidity
0 = Minimal or no morbidity
N/A
Likelihood: What is the chance that the outcome will occur? 3 = >40% chance
2 = 5%-39% chance
1 = 1%-4% chance
0 = <1% chance
A = Substantial evidence or evidence from a high tier (tier 1)
B = Moderate evidence or evidence from a moderate tier (tier 2)
C = Minimal evidence or evidence from a lower tier (tier 3 or 4)
D = Poor evidence or evidence not provided in the report
N = Evidence based on expert contributions (tier 5)
Effectiveness: What is the effectiveness of a specific intervention in preventing or diminishing the risk of harm? 3 = Highly effective
2 = Moderately effective
1 = Minimally effective
0 = Controversial or unknown effectiveness
IN = Ineffective/No interventiona
A = Substantial evidence or evidence from a high tier (tier 1)
B = Moderate evidence or evidence from a moderate tier (tier 2)
C = Minimal evidence or evidence from a lower tier (tier 3 or 4)
D = Poor evidence or evidence not provided in the report
N = Evidence based on expert contributions (tier 5)
Nature of intervention: How risky, medically burdensome, or intensive is the intervention? 3 = Low risk, or medically acceptable and low intensity
2 = Moderate risk, moderately acceptable or intensive
1 = Greater risk, less acceptable and substantial intensity
0 = High risk, poorly acceptable or intensive
N/A
a Do not score the remaining categories

Prevalence of the Genetic Condition

TSC affects approximately one in 6000 births, with a prevalence of one in 11,000 to 14,000 after the age of 10 years.
View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, (2011) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Moss J, et al. (2009) PMID: 19708861

Clinical Features (Signs / symptoms)

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare, slowly progressive disorder characterized by disorganized cellular growth, abnormal differentiation, and the pervasive formation of benign tumors in the brain, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, retina, and other organs. These masses consist of cysts, lesions, nodules, or tubers that present in a range of numbers, sizes, and locations; which may lead to early and severe symptoms, or which may result in mild symptoms that are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed well into adulthood. Kidney manifestations include angiomyolipomas (AMLs) with complications of hemorrhagic rupture, cortical cysts, chronic renal insufficiency (due to AMLs or polycystosis), and malignant lesions. Adult women with TSC may develop pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), which can lead to terminal respiratory insufficiency. Brain lesions include subependymal nodules (SEN), cortical tubers, and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) affecting 80%, 90%, and 5-15% of TSC patients, respectively. When SEGAs develop they produce complications either through growth and invasion of surrounding cerebral tissue or through blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Development and progression of benign brain tumors including tubers, SEN, and SEGAs may be associated with epilepsy, intellectual disability, and behavioral disorders such as autism and ADHD. Prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in TSC range from 24% to 60% with an approximately equal male to female ratio. In adulthood, high rates of anxiety symptoms and depressed mood are reported. Disfiguring skin lesions are common, but do not result in serious medical problems. Eye lesions are occasionally symptomatic.
View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Moss J, et al. (2009) PMID: 19708861, Northrup H, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053982, de Vries P, et al. (2005) PMID: 15981129, Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458, Hallett L, et al. (2011) PMID: 21692602

Natural History (Important subgroups & survival / recovery)

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) exhibits variability in clinical findings both among and within families. Females tend to have milder disease than males. Any organ system can be involved and TSC2 mutations produce a more severe phenotype than TSC1 mutations. Patients with mild symptoms tend to live long, productive lives, while individuals with more severe forms of TSC may have serious disabilities. In at least two-thirds of cases, TSC is diagnosed in the first year of life when an infant with TSC presents with epileptic seizures; cortical tumors may be detected. Cardiac rhabdomyoma may also be present particularly in the neonatal period, requiring surveillance until regression during childhood. Epilepsy is a major manifestation in childhood and may be accompanied by behavioral and neuropsychiatric manifestations that continue into adulthood. The leading cause of premature death (32.5%) among individuals with TSC is a complication of severe intellectual disability (e.g. status epilepticus and bronchopneumonia). Renal disease is the second leading cause of early death (27.5%). Kidney damage affects 48-80% of patients, developing mainly before 20 years of age but with consequences that must be managed well into adulthood. Whether TSC is a risk factor for development of malignant kidney tumors is a subject of debate; such tumors occur in TSC at a rate of 0.5-4%. Although present in a minority of cases, SEGAs tend to develop in adolescence or very early adulthood and may remain dormant or enlarge at any time, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The mean age of diagnosis for women who develop TSC LAM is 28 years.
View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, (2011) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., de Vries P, et al. (2005) PMID: 15981129, Hallett L, et al. (2011) PMID: 21692602

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Mode of Inheritance

Autosomal Dominant

Two thirds of affected individuals have the altered TSC1 or TSC2 gene as the result of a de novo mutation.

View Citations

(2011) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Prevalence of Genetic Variants

Unknown
No information on population prevalence of genetic mutations was found. About 30% of patients with definite clinical TSC and an identifiable mutation have a TSC1 mutation; the rest have a TSC2 mutation.
Tier 3 View Citations

(2011) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Mayer K, et al. (2014) PMID: 23756443

Approximately 15-20% of persons with TSC have no mutation identified.
Tier 3 View Citations

(2011) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Mayer K, et al. (2014) PMID: 23756443

Penetrance (Includes any high-risk racial or ethnic subgroups)

>= 40 %
In a study of 103 clinically diagnosed TSC patients (all with seizure onset at less than 3 years of age), 90% of whom had confirmed TSC1 or TSC2 mutations, it was estimated that 40% of individuals had ASD. (Tier 5)
Tier Not provided View Citations

Numis AL, et al. (2011) PMID: 21403110

In three studies of TSC patients selected first by clinical diagnosis and then by TSC1 or TSC2 mutation, the following characteristics were documented. <p class="paragraph-separator"></p><p class="bullet-indent">• Median age at diagnosis was 10 to 13 years; overall range was 0 to 64 years.</p><p class="paragraph-separator"></p><p class="bullet-indent">• Skin involvement included: hypomelanotic macules (92-96% of individuals), facial angiofibromas (63-80%), shagreen patches (44-55%), forehead plaques (33-41%), and ungual fibromas (20-37%).</p><p class="paragraph-separator"></p><p class="bullet-indent">• SENs occurred in 89-95%, cortical or subcortical tubers occurred in 88-91%, and SEGAs occurred in 12-31% of all individuals with TSC-related mutations.</p><p class="paragraph-separator"></p><p class="bullet-indent">• 80-95% of individuals with mutations had seizures, and 48-76% had intellectual disability.</p><p class="paragraph-separator"></p><p class="bullet-indent">• Renal AMLS affected 42-56% and renal cysts (any grade) affected 23-27% of adults.</p>
Tier 5 View Citations

Au KS, et al. (2007) PMID: 17304050, Dabora SL, et al. (2001) PMID: 11112665, Sancak O, et al. (2005) PMID: 15798777

5-39 %
In two studies of TSC patients selected first by clinical diagnosis and then by TSC1 or TSC2 mutation, LAM occurred in 12-39% of adult females with TSC.
Tier 5 View Citations

McCormack F, et al. (2002) PMID: 11893688, Dabora SL, et al. (2001) PMID: 11112665

Relative Risk (Includes any high-risk racial or ethnic subgroups)

Unknown
No information on relative risk was found.

Expressivity

The TSC clinical phenotype is extremely variable. Some individuals have only superficial skin problems or mild seizures while others show severe physical effects and profound intellectual disability. Variability has also been noted in monozygotic twins.
Tier 3 View Citations

Moss J, et al. (2009) PMID: 19708861, de Vries P, et al. (2005) PMID: 15981129

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Patient Management

At diagnosis all individuals should undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, abdominal imaging, renal function tests, blood pressure assessment, echocardiogram, and a detailed dermatologic, dental and ophthalmologic exam. Also, a baseline pulmonary function test, 6-minute walk test, and high-resolution tomography (HRCT) in women 18 years or older.
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458, Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

Newly diagnosed adults should undergo an assessment of cognitive, behavioral, and vocational profiles to determine a based profile for future evaluations. Psychosocial needs should be also determined.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

SEGAs associated with increasing ventricular enlargement, or with unexplained changes in neurological status or neuropsychiatric symptoms, require intervention (surgical resection or medical therapy with mTOR inhibitors) or more frequent clinical monitoring and reimaging. In two large prospective studies, the mTOR inhibitor everolimus significantly decreased the volume (>50%) of SEGAs in 35% to 42% at 6 months of treatment.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983, Roth J, et al. (2013) PMID: 24138953

Patients should be informed of the risk and clinical signs of a hemorrhagic rupture of an AML and the nearest medical centers able to treat these acute ruptures should be identified. Patients with LAM should be educated and warned regarding the signs and risk of pneumothorax and told to seek urgent medical attention in the event of symptoms.
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458

The onset of respiratory symptoms (unexplained dyspnea, pneumothorax) should result in pulmonary imaging regardless of the sex of the patient. In select patients, treatment with an mTOR inhibitor may be used to stabilize or improve pulmonary function. In a 1-year randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of sirolimus in 89 patients with LAM, the between-group difference in the mean change in FEV(1) was about 11% of baseline, favoring sirolimus. The sirolimus group improved in measures of forced vital capacity, quality of life, and functional performance, although not in the 6-miniute walk test.
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458, Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

Patients with TSC who would like to become pregnant should have a genetic consultation before any conception and should be informed of risks during pregnancy.
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464

Surveillance

Ongoing periodic surveillance is needed after initial diagnosis for optimal care and prevention of secondary complications associated with TSC.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

It is imperative to monitor for TSC-specific neuropsychiatric features and their impact on daily living at each follow-up clinic visit, with a minimum frequency of once per year.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

Annual screening and monitoring of renal lesions and blood pressure is indicated in all patients with TSC. Preventive treatment such as mTOR inhibitor therapy for AMLs meeting appropriate criteria may be considered. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial of patients with TSC or sporadic LAM, the AML response rate was 42% (33 of 79 [95% CI 31-53%]) for the mTOR everolimus and 0% (0 of 39 [0-9%]) for placebo (response rate difference 42% [24-58%]; p<0·0001).
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

A skin survey should be performed annually to assess skin lesions. Early intervention is indicated for bleeding, symptomatic, or potentially disfiguring lesions.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

HRCT imaging for pulmonary LAM should be repeated in previously asymptomatic women every 5-10 years after baseline or at least by 30 to 40 years of age.
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458, Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

For early detection, MRI surveillance for SEGAs should be performed every 1-3 years until age 25, or more frequently in developmentally or cognitively disabled patients who cannot reliably report symptoms. Individuals without SEGAs by the age of 25 years do not need continued surveillance, but those with asymptomatic tumors should continue to be monitored by MRI for life because of the possibility of growth.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

Circumstances to Avoid

Patients with LAM should refrain from smoking.
Tier 2 View Citations

Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458

Patients with TSC who have renal AMLs and/or pulmonary LAM should avoid estrogenic treatments, which are risk factors for AML progression and/or spontaneous rupture, and for more rapid degeneration of respiratory function in LAM. For those without symptoms, counseling on smoking risks and estrogen use should also occur in adolescents and adults
Tier 2 View Citations

Rouviere O, et al. (2013) PMID: 23415464, Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

Nephrectomy should be avoided due to the high incidence of complications and risk of renal insufficiency or failure.
Tier 2 View Citations

Krueger DA, et al. (2013) PMID: 24053983

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.

Nature of Intervention

Because of the variability of TSC, non-invasive but comprehensive investigations of different organ systems are needed, like a neurological examination, MRI of the brain, cardiology examination, ultrasound of the heart, ophthalmological examination, dermatological examination, and ultrasound or CT-scan of the abdomen. Some patients may require treatment with mTOR inhibitors, which may be accompanied by adverse events of moderate risk such as infection, metabolic disturbances, hematologic abnormalities, non-infectious pneumonitis, and renal dysfunction.
Context: Adult

Chance to Escape Clinical Detection

TSC has a highly variable phenotype with only one third of patients having the classical triad of epilepsy, learning difficulties, and facial angiofibromas. Those who do not have epilepsy or learning difficulties may have mild cutaneous features of TSC that can be overlooked. Diverse, non-specific, clinical manifestations as well as a high probability of a spontaneous mutation can cause some individuals with TSC to go unrecognized or misdiagnosed for years.
Context: Adult
Tier 4 View Citations

(2011) URL: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov., Johnson SR, et al. (2010) PMID: 20044458, Hallett L, et al. (2011) PMID: 21692602

Description of sources of evidence:

Tier 1: Evidence from a systematic review or a meta-analysis or clinical practice guideline clearly based on a systematic review.
Tier 2: Evidence from clinical practice guidelines or broad-based expert consensus with non-systematic evidence review.
Tier 3: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with primary literature cited.
Tier 4: Evidence from another source with non-systematic review of evidence with no citations to primary data sources.
Tier 5: Evidence from a non-systematically identified source.
Gene Condition Associations
OMIM Identifier Primary MONDO Identifier Additional MONDO Identifiers
TSC1 191100 0001734 0008612
TSC2 613254 0001734 0013199

References List

Au KS, Williams AT, Roach ES, Batchelor L, Sparagana SP, Delgado MR, Wheless JW, Baumgartner JE, Roa BB, Wilson CM, Smith-Knuppel TK, Cheung MY, Whittemore VH, King TM, Northrup H. (2007) Genotype/phenotype correlation in 325 individuals referred for a diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex in the United States. Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics. 9(2):88-100.

Dabora SL, Jozwiak S, Franz DN, Roberts PS, Nieto A, Chung J, Choy YS, Reeve MP, Thiele E, Egelhoff JC, Kasprzyk-Obara J, Domanska-Pakiela D, Kwiatkowski DJ. (2001) Mutational analysis in a cohort of 224 tuberous sclerosis patients indicates increased severity of TSC2, compared with TSC1, disease in multiple organs. American journal of human genetics. 68(1):64-80.

de Vries P, Humphrey A, McCartney D, Prather P, Bolton P, Hunt A. (2005) Consensus clinical guidelines for the assessment of cognitive and behavioural problems in Tuberous Sclerosis. European child & adolescent psychiatry. 14(4):183-90.

Hallett L, Foster T, Liu Z, Blieden M, Valentim J. (2011) Burden of disease and unmet needs in tuberous sclerosis complex with neurological manifestations: systematic review. Current medical research and opinion. 27(8):1571-83.

Johnson SR, Cordier JF, Lazor R, Cottin V, Costabel U, Harari S, Reynaud-Gaubert M, Boehler A, Brauner M, Popper H, Bonetti F, Kingswood C. (2010) European Respiratory Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of lymphangioleiomyomatosis. The European respiratory journal. 35(1):14-26.

Krueger DA, Northrup H. (2013) Tuberous sclerosis complex surveillance and management: recommendations of the 2012 International Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Consensus Conference. Pediatric neurology. 49(4):255-65.

Mayer K, Fonatsch C, Wimmer K, van den Ouweland AM, Maat-Kievit AJ. (2014) Clinical utility gene card for: tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC1, TSC2). European journal of human genetics : EJHG. 22(2).

McCormack F, Brody A, Meyer C, Leonard J, Chuck G, Dabora S, Sethuraman G, Colby TV, Kwiatkowski DJ, Franz DN. (2002) Pulmonary cysts consistent with lymphangioleiomyomatosis are common in women with tuberous sclerosis: genetic and radiographic analysis. Chest. 121(3 Suppl):61S.

Moss J, Howlin P. (2009) Autism spectrum disorders in genetic syndromes: implications for diagnosis, intervention and understanding the wider autism spectrum disorder population. Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR. 53(10):852-73.

Northrup H, Krueger DA. (2013) Tuberous sclerosis complex diagnostic criteria update: recommendations of the 2012 Iinternational Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Consensus Conference. Pediatric neurology. 49(4):243-54.

Numis AL, Major P, Montenegro MA, Muzykewicz DA, Pulsifer MB, Thiele EA. (2011) Identification of risk factors for autism spectrum disorders in tuberous sclerosis complex. Neurology. 76(11):981-7.

Roth J, Roach ES, Bartels U, Jozwiak S, Koenig MK, Weiner HL, Franz DN, Wang HZ. (2013) Subependymal giant cell astrocytoma: diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Recommendations from the International Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Consensus Conference 2012. Pediatric neurology. 49(6):439-44.

Rouviere O, Nivet H, Grenier N, Zini L, Lechevallier E. (2013) Kidney damage due to tuberous sclerosis complex: management recommendations. Diagnostic and interventional imaging. 94(3):225-37.

Sancak O, Nellist M, Goedbloed M, Elfferich P, Wouters C, Maat-Kievit A, Zonnenberg B, Verhoef S, Halley D, van den Ouweland A. (2005) Mutational analysis of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes in a diagnostic setting: genotype--phenotype correlations and comparison of diagnostic DNA techniques in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. European journal of human genetics : EJHG. 13(6):731-41.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. Gene Reviews (2011) URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1220/

Early Rule-Out Summary

This topic passed the early rule out stage

Findings of Early Rule-Out Assessment

  1. Is there a qualifying resource, such as a practice guideline or systematic review, for the genetic condition?
  2. Does the practice guideline or systematic review indicate that the result is actionable in one or more of the following ways?
  3. a. Patient Management

    b. Surveillance or Screening

    c. Circumstances to Avoid

  4. Is it actionable in an undiagnosed adult with the condition?
  5. Is this condition an important health problem?
  6. Is there at least on known pathogenic variant with at least moderate penetrance (≥40%) or moderate relative risk (≥2) in any population?