Telomere biology disorder associated lung disease- case report of a TERT gene variant as the cause of pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis

Case presentationDescription of a patient with a progressive destructive lung disease resembling pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis, liver cirrhosis and bone marrow changes. Genetic workup identified a rare heterozygous coding variant in the TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) gene c.472 C>T; p.(Leu158Phe) and telomere length testing revealed significant telomere shortening, supporting the diagnosis of telomere biology disorder (TBD).DiscussionTBD is an underrecognized cause of interstitial lung disease (ILD). It is a heterogeneous disease that can affect different organs, including lungs, liver and bone marrow. Genetic testing in ILD is crucial for early diagnosis, risk assessment, and family screening. Identifying this variant enables targeted genetic testing for relatives, allowing preventive measures and lifestyle modifications.