Genetic carrier screening for spinal muscular atrophy and spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress 1 in an isolated population in Israel.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness. It is caused by a mutation in the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1) gene. SMA with respiratory distress 1 (SMARD1), an uncommon variant of infantile SMA also inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, is caused by mutations in the immunoglobulin mu-binding protein 2 (IGHMBP2) gene. We carried out genetic carrier screening among the residents of an isolated Israeli Arab village with a high frequency of SMA in order to identify carriers of SMA type I and SMARD1. During 2006, 168 women were tested for SMA, of whom 13.1% were found to be carriers. Of 111 women tested for SMARD1, 9.9% were found to be carriers. Prenatal diagnosis was performed in one couple where both spouses were carriers of SMARD1; the fetus was found to be affected, and the pregnancy was terminated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of the establishment of a large-scale carrier-screening program for SMA and SMARD1 in an isolated population. SMA has a carrier frequency of 1:33-1:60 in most populations and should be considered for inclusion in a population-based genetic-screening program.
Basel-Vanagaite
Lina
L
Department of Medical Genetics, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel. basel@post.tau.ac.il
Taub
Ellen
E
Drasinover
Valerie
V
Magal
Nurit
N
Brudner
Alona
A
Zlotogora
Joel
J
Shohat
Mordechai
M
D018912:Arabs / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000379:methods; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening / Q000379:methods*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055532:SMN Complex Proteins; D055533:Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C489892:IGHMBP2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D055532:SMN Complex Proteins; C526471:SMN1 protein, human; D055533:Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors