title: Epidemiology of myotonic dystrophy in Italy: re-apprisal after genetic diagnosis.
abstract: Before the discovery of the myotonic dystrophy (DM) gene, the DM epidemiological rates could not be accurately estimated. The aim of this study was to calculate the DM prevalence rates in Padova (North-East Italy) and in four provinces of North-West Tuscany (Central Italy) and, as of 30 June 1999, to do so using molecular genetic testing. A minimum prevalence rate of 9.31x10(-5) inhabitants was found, consistent with epidemiological rates worldwide, and more than two times as high as those of two previous studies conducted in the same areas during the era prior to molecular genetic testing. This study, the first in Italy since the discovery of the DM gene, underlines the importance of direct genetic diagnosis of DM, especially in detecting mildly affected patients, a fundamental step in correctly estimating the risk of disease transmission in affected families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. gsicilia@med.unipi.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gennarelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rocchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iudice
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miorin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostacciuolo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009223:Myotonic Dystrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D019680:Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA