A Nationwide Study of GATA2 Deficiency in Italy Reveals Novel Symptoms and Genotype-phenotype Association

GATA2 deficiency is a rare disorder encompassing a broadly variable phenotype and its clinical picture is continuously evolving. Since it was first described in 2011, up to 500 patients have been reported. Here, we describe a cohort of 31 Italian patients (26 families) with molecular diagnosis of GATA2 deficiency. Patients were recruited contacting all the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) centers, the Hematology Department in their institution and Italian societies involved in the field of vascular anomalies, otorhinolaryngology, dermatology, infectious and respiratory diseases. Median age at the time of first manifestation, molecular diagnosis and last follow-up visit was 12.5 (age-range, 2-52 years), 18 (age-range, 7-64 years) and 22 years (age-range, 3-64), respectively. Infections (39%), hematological malignancies (23%) and undefined cytopenia (16%) were the most frequent symptoms at the onset of the disease. The majority of patients (55%) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. During the follow-up rarer manifestations emerged. The clinical penetrance was highly variable, with the coexistence of severely affected pediatric patients and asymptomatic adults in the same pedigree. Two individuals remained asymptomatic at the last follow-up visit. Our study highlights new (pilonidal cyst/sacrococcygeal fistula, cholangiocarcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma) phenotypes and show that lymphedema may be associated with null/regulatory mutations. Countrywide studies providing long prospective follow-up are essential to unveil the exact burden of rarer manifestations and the natural history in GATA2 deficiency.

Automated summary

In this study, a cohort of 31 Italian patients with molecular diagnosis of GATA2 deficiency was described. The clinical picture of the disease showed broad variability, with symptoms at the onset including infections, hematological malignancies, and undefined cytopenia. Rare manifestations were also observed during the follow-up period.