The Italian Angelman Syndrome Registry (IReAS): a tool for standardized data collection and genotype-phenotype analysis

BACKGROUND: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare and heterogeneous genetic disorder characterized by intellectual and psychomotor delay, speech deficits, seizures and behavioural issues. To evaluate the feasibility of collecting data by many Italian centers involved in pathology management, and to investigate the relationship between various symptoms and genotypes, a dedicated AS registry was developed. This study aims to present preliminary findings from the Italian AS registry (IReAS), with a specific focus on exploring genotype-phenotype correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The IReAS, established in 2020, aims to collect information from 14 different Italian referral. It includes demography, diagnosis and genetic, patient status, therapeutic interventions and mortality data collection. RESULTS: 213 patients (55.4 % female vs 44.6 % male) were included in the IReAS during the 2020-24 period. Average age at genetic diagnosis was 3.8 years; 63 % of patients was paediatric; 70.4 % of subjects had maternal deletion. Most patients exhibited global developmental delay (100 %), movement disorders (94.8 %), behavioral abnormalities (96.2 %), and a total lack of language development (95.8 %). Epilepsy is also highly prevalent (80.3 %), with a significantly higher incidence in patients with maternal deletion compared to non-deletion groups (88 % vs 61.9 %). CONCLUSIONS: The IReAS provides comprehensive data on the diagnosis, genetic subtypes and clinical features of AS patients. It can facilitate genotype-phenotype correlation analyses, offering insights into the AS natural history and potential implications for research on targeted therapies.