Genetic testing for disease susceptibilities: consequences for genetic counseling.
The role of genetic counseling in future testing for inherited susceptibilities for common diseases is debated. Currently, genetic testing, ideally supported by genetic counseling, is most often used to modify the assessment of genetic risk of Mendelian-inherited disease in high-risk individuals for the purpose of personal decision-making. By contrast, it is anticipated that genetic testing will be used to identify increased disease susceptibility in low-risk individuals for the purpose of instituting medical or lifestyle interventions to modify risk for future disease.
Pagon
Roberta A
RA
University of Washington School of Medicine, GeneReviews, 9725 Third Ave NE, Suite 610, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. bpagon@u.washington.edu
D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans