Parent-of-origin effect in the segregation analysis of bipolar affective disorder families.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to test for heterogeneity in bipolar families based on the differential parental transmission of disease.


METHODS
Complex segregation analyses of 260 bipolar families, ascertained by the Johns Hopkins Bipolar Disorder Study, was performed based on the evidence for a parent-of-origin effect in the inheritance pattern by using REGD in Statistical Analysis for Genetic Epidemiology, Release 3.1 program.


RESULTS
A Mendelian dominant model provided the best explanation in 57 paternal pedigrees (pedigrees with an affected paternal lineage). No evidence of Mendelian inheritance existed among 141 pedigrees showing maternal transmission. A likelihood ratio test for heterogeneity on the basis of best-fitting Mendelian dominant model showed significant differences between these two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that pedigrees with no evidence of maternal transmission of bipolar disorder may represent a unique genetic subgroup of multiplex bipolar families.
Lan
Tsuo-Hung
TH
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Beaty
Terri H
TH
DePaulo
J Raymond
JR
McInnis
Melvin G
MG
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics*; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009035:Mothers; D010375:Pedigree; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012744:Sex Ratio; D018454:Spouses