Genetic basis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is well recognised but still rarely utilized in diagnostics setting. Diagnostic yield of comprehensive multi-gene panels in PAH is relatively unknown as current knowledge is gathered from studies evaluating only one gene at a time in a heterogenous patient populations.  Finnish PAH experts and Blueprint Genetics performed a collaborative research project where they  screened 21 PAH-patients (18 idiopathic and 3 familial) with the Blueprint Genetics PAH Panel. Pathogenic disease causing mutations were found in 29 % of the patients, of which one third were initially tested negative with Sanger sequencing. This study demonstrated that Blueprint Genetics unique targeted sequencing method, OS-Seq, is a practical and effective tool for genetic profiling with high-quality performance, allowing effective and simultaneous analysis of genetic causes underlying PAH. All in all, considering the accuracy, decreased costs and fast turn-around-times, NGS technologies are rapidly replacing laborious Sanger-sequencing in genetic diagnostics of PAH.

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