loading page

Fitting a naturally scaled point system to the ACMG/AMP variant classification guidelines
  • Sean Tavtigian,
  • Ken Boucher,
  • Leslie Biesecker
Sean Tavtigian
Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah

Corresponding Author:sean.tavtigian@hci.utah.edu

Author Profile
Ken Boucher
Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah
Author Profile
Leslie Biesecker
National Institutes of Health
Author Profile

Abstract

Recently, we demonstrated that the qualitative American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/ Association for Medical Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guidelines for evaluation of Mendelian disease gene variants are fundamentally compatible with a quantitative Bayesian formulation. Here, we show that the underlying ACMG/AMP “strength of evidence categories” can be abstracted into a point system. These points are proportional to Log(odds), are additive, and produce a system that recapitulates the Bayesian formulation of the ACMG/AMP guidelines. Strengths of this system are its simplicity and that the connection between point values and odds of pathogenicity allows empirical calibration of strength of evidence for individual data types. Weaknesses include that a narrow range of prior probabilities is locked in, and that the Bayesian nature of the system is inapparent. We conclude that a points-based system has useful attributes of user friendliness and can be useful so long as the underlying Bayesian principles are acknowledged.
13 Apr 2020Submitted to Human Mutation
14 Apr 2020Submission Checks Completed
14 Apr 2020Assigned to Editor
11 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
06 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
17 Jul 20201st Revision Received
20 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
20 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
20 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Accept