Simultaneous multigene mutation detection in patients with sensorineural hearing loss through a novel diagnostic microarray: a new approach for newborn screening follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
The advent of universal newborn hearing screening in the United States and other countries, together with the identification of genes involved in the process of hearing, have led to an increase in both the need and opportunity for accurate molecular diagnosis of patients with hearing loss. Deafness and hearing impairment have a genetic cause in at least half the cases. The molecular genetic basis for the majority of these patients remains obscure, however, because of the absence of associated clinical features in approximately 70% (ie, nonsyndromic hearing loss) of patients, genetic heterogeneity, and the lack of molecular genetic tests that can evaluate a large number of mutations across multiple genes.


METHODS
We report on the development of a diagnostic panel with 198 mutations underlying sensorineural (mostly nonsyndromic) hearing loss. This panel, developed on a microarray, is capable of simultaneous evaluation of multiple mutations in 8 genes (GJB2, GJB6, GJB3, GJA1, SLC26A4, SLC26A5 and the mitochondrial genes encoding 12S rRNA and tRNA-Ser[UCN]).


RESULTS
The arrayed primer extension array for sensorineural hearing loss is based on a versatile platform technology and is a robust, cost-effective, and easily modifiable assay. Because hearing loss is a major public health concern and common at all ages, this test is suitable for follow-up after newborn hearing screening and for the detection of a genetic etiology in older children and adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive and relatively inexpensive genetic testing for sensorineural hearing loss will improve medical management for affected individuals and genetic counseling for their families.
Gardner
Phyllis
P
Department of Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Oitmaa
Eneli
E
Messner
Anna
A
Hoefsloot
Lies
L
Metspalu
Andres
A
Schrijver
Iris
I
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D000072259:Connexin 26