
doi: 10.1002/art.43327
pmid: 40976851
Objective Vacuoles, E1‐ubiquitin–activating enzyme, X‐linked, autoinflammatory, somatic (VEXAS) syndrome is a progressive systemic autoinflammatory disorder caused by somatic variants in UBA1 in blood. Previous analyses have shown discordant disease penetrance. In this study, we examine the associations between demographic features and UBA1 variant allele frequency (VAF) with disease manifestations. Methods Whole exome sequencing data from 192,584 participants from Geisinger MyCode Community Health Initiative and Mount Sinai Bio Me Biobank were analyzed for disease‐causing variants in UBA1 . Clinical manifestations were analyzed across individuals with the UBA1 variant. Results Nine UBA1 variants (VAF range 2.9%–79%) in 23 participants (69.6% men) were identified. Cases with high VAF (>20%) developed macrocytic anemia more often (87.5%) than patients with low VAF (≤20%) variants (27%; P = 0.009). Specifically, at the time of genetic testing, 87.5% of high VAF cases had macrocytic anemia compared with 13.3% of low VAF cases ( P = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the development of anemia or thrombocytopenia ( P = 0.53). In two high VAF cases, macrocytosis developed more than five years before the time of sample collection, followed by anemia approximately at the time of sample collection. In one low VAF case with other inflammatory symptoms, macrocytic anemia did not develop until five years after sample collection. Conclusion VEXAS syndrome disease severity and penetrance increase at higher VAFs. Low VAF cases demonstrate incomplete penetrance, and the disease tends to be milder in those with it. Female individuals are enriched in lower VAFs and have milder symptoms, suggesting a protective role against disease severity. Low VAF cases, especially ≤10%, can be initially asymptomatic and later develop disease. image
Article
Article
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 4 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
