title: Cytogenetic analysis of 5572 patients referred for suspected chromosomal abnormalities in Morocco.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was (1) to identify the profile of patients being referred for cytogenetic analysis in Morocco, (2) to determine the prevalence and type of chromosomal abnormalities in the different groups, (3) to compare the results with those of similar studies done in other countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  5572 patients ranging from newborns to 50 years of age were referred to the department of medical genetics, of the Moroccan National Institute of Health between 1993 and 2010, with a variety of clinical disorders such as mental retardation; multiple congenital malformations; clinical features of Down syndrome, Turner's syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome; ambiguous sex; sterility; amenorrhea; recurrent miscarriage; and chromosome breakage syndromes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 5572 cases studied, 4068 (73%) had a normal karyotype and 1504 (27%) had chromosomal abnormalities. Various types of chromosomal anomalies were found. The most common autosomal abnormalities were Down syndrome (1095 cases) and Turner's syndrome (122 cases) in abnormalities of sex chromosomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study compares the results of cytogenetic analysis of chromosomal abnormalities in the Moroccan population with other countries and research centers. This comparison will help Moroccan clinicians to determine the priority for requesting a cytogenetic analysis in individual cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Health, Rabat, Morocco. nisrineaboussair@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Nisrine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aboussair
authors.forename: Imane Cherkaoui
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Jaouad
authors.forename: Souad Cherkaoui
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Dequaqui
authors.forename: Aziza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sbiti
authors.forename: Fatiha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elkerch
authors.forename: Benbouchta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yahya
authors.forename: Abdelhafid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natiq
authors.forename: Abdelaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sefiani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D059785:Karyotype; D007713:Klinefelter Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult