Kristina Aleknavičienė

Mrs. Kristina Aleknavičienė

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MŠMarius Šukys
Marius Šukys
EEEglė Ereminienė
Eglė Ereminienė
KAKristina Aleknavičienė
Kristina Aleknavičienė
RJRimvydas Jonikas
Rimvydas Jonikas
ETEglė Tamulėnaitė
Eglė Tamulėnaitė
RURasa Ugenskienė
Rasa Ugenskienė
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCMs) are among the most common genetic disorders; however, they might be underdiagnosed. Sequencing core sarcomere gene panels remain the main diagnostic tool. We present the results of HCM genetic testing performed at Lithuania’s tertiary care center. All patients with diagnosed or clinically suspected HCM underwent next-generation panel sequencing. Of 204 patients, 34 (16.7%) received a genetic diagnosis. The most commonly affected genes were MYBPC3 and MYH7. Notably, two patients were found to have LEOPARD syndrome due to PTPN11 gene variants. Our results indicate that patients with an identified pathogenic variant were diagnosed with HCM at a younger age and exhibited a more severe phenotype (greater septal wall thickness), although no clear correlation with family history was observed. In addition, four novel MYBPC3 variants, c.3467dup, c.1503C>G, c.2610dup, and c.1251del, were identified.

6 July 2026 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MŠMarius Šukys
Marius Šukys
EEEglė Ereminienė
Eglė Ereminienė
KAKristina Aleknavičienė
Kristina Aleknavičienė
RJRimvydas Jonikas
Rimvydas Jonikas
KMKarolina Mėlinytė-Ankudavičė
Karolina Mėlinytė-Ankudavičė
RURasa Ugenskienė
Rasa Ugenskienė
Background/Objectives: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous disorder with a substantial genetic contribution from a variety of pathogenic variants. Hereditary isolated DCM is often caused by variants in genes encoding sarcomere proteins, as well as proteins involved in desmosomes or other cardiac cell functions. Identifying genetic causes improves our understanding of DCM pathophysiology, facilitates prognostic assessment, and enables more personalized disease management. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed genetic data from adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of isolated DCM evaluated at a Lithuanian tertiary university hospital between 2019 and 2024. All patients were tested with a next-generation sequencing cardiovascular gene panel. Results: We gathered 169 patients and initially reached a 16.0% (n = 27) genetic testing diagnostic yield. We performed all genetic variant reanalyses with the most current classification guidelines, and we found an additional eight positive cases. Our final diagnostic yield was 20.7% (n = 35). TTN was the most frequently affected gene (n = 30), whereas variants in BAG3 (n = 2), DSP (n = 1), LMNA (n = 1), and FLNC (n = 1) were rare. In total, 15 variants were novel—not described in the literature or databases. We did not observe significant clinical differences between patients with pathogenic variants and those without pathogenic variants. We expected a different clinical course with variants in genes like BAG3 or LMNA, but there were only a few cases. Conclusions: Genetic testing remains an important tool for confirming complex DCM cases and allows earlier disease management for relatives at risk.

18 March 2026 in Diagnostics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KAKristina Aleknavičienė
Kristina Aleknavičienė
MŠMarius Šukys
Marius Šukys
ŽŽŽivilė Žemeckienė
Živilė Žemeckienė
BZBirute Zilaitiene
Birute Zilaitiene
RURasa Ugenskienė
Rasa Ugenskienė
Background/Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic yield of phenotype-guided cytogenetic and targeted molecular genetic testing in patients referred for infertility and reproductive disorders within a tertiary medical genetics referral pathway. Methods: This retrospective study included 900 consecutive patients (473 males, 427 females) referred to a tertiary medical genetics center between January 2020 and December 2024. Conventional karyotyping was performed in all patients. Additional targeted molecular tests were applied based on clinical indication: Y chromosome microdeletion analysis in azoospermia or oligospermia, CFTR sequencing in suspected congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, and F2/F5 genotyping in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Diagnostic yield was analyzed in a predefined subgroup of 566 patients with RPL, unexplained infertility, azoospermia, or oligospermia; remaining referrals were included in descriptive cytogenetic analyses only. Results: Chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 3.22% (29/900) of the total cohort and in 5.12% (29/566) of the diagnostic-yield cohort. Targeted testing yields were 3.75% (6/160) for Y chromosome microdeletions, 9.38% (3/32) for CFTR variants, and 3.31% (4/121) for F2/F5 variants. Diagnostic yield varied markedly by phenotype, being highest in azoospermia (33.3%), followed by oligospermia (6.6%), RPL (5.3%), and unexplained infertility (3.1%). In unexplained infertility, all chromosomal abnormalities were detected in female patients. Conclusions: In a tertiary referral setting, phenotype-guided genetic testing provides the greatest diagnostic value in well-defined infertility phenotypes, particularly azoospermia. Lower yields in other referral groups support a targeted, indication-based approach to genetic evaluation and highlight the need for advanced genomic strategies in persistently unexplained cases.