title: Cystic fibrosis carrier frequency and estimated prevalence of the disease in Morocco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) is poorly known in North African populations, in particular in Morocco and the CF carrier frequency in the general Moroccan population has never been evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  To estimate the prevalence of CF mutations in Morocco, blood samples from 150 healthy Moroccans were tested for frequent CFTR mutations and the intron 8 polyT variant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two subjects were heterozygous for F508del and eight others for the (T)5 variant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that the Moroccan population is at risk for CF and CFTR-related disorders. CF prevalence could be in the range of that found in European populations. Wider studies are necessary to identify the clinical pattern and accurately determine the prevalence and molecular basis of CF in Morocco.
authors.affiliation: Service de Biochimie et Génétique, AP-HP et INSERM U841 équipe 11, groupe hospitalier Henri Mondor-Albert Chenevier, 94010 Créteil, France.
authors.forename: Ilham
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ratbi
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Génin
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legendre
authors.forename: Annick
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Floch
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Souad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cherkaoui-Deqqaqi
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Abdelaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sefiani
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Girodon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D009154:Mutation; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator