Assisted reproductive therapies and imprinting disorders--a preliminary British survey.
BACKGROUND
Recent reports have suggested a higher risk of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) after assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), but it is unclear whether this might also apply to other disorders of genomic imprinting.


METHODS
We contacted families of children with BWS, AS, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and transient neonatal diabetes mellitus (TNDM) to determine use of ART.


RESULTS
A statistically significant increased frequency of ART in children with BWS was confirmed [2.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-6.3% vs 0.8% expected] but there was no significant association with PWS or TNDM. Consideration of the molecular subgroup of BWS and AS suggested the feasibility of association with ART.


CONCLUSIONS
These differences may relate to variations in (i) the molecular mechanisms for disordered imprinting in the different disorders and (ii) the susceptibility of specific imprinting control regions to ART-associated methylation alterations (epimutations).
Sutcliffe
A G
AG
Department of Child Health, Royal Free & University College Medical School, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. icsi@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
Peters
C J
CJ
Bowdin
S
S
Temple
K
K
Reardon
W
W
Wilson
L
L
Clayton-Smith
J
J
Brueton
L A
LA
Bannister
W
W
Maher
E R
ER
D017204:Angelman Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001506:Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006801:Humans; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology