title: Genetic Counseling and Screening of Consanguineous Couples and Their Offspring: Recommendations of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
abstract: The objective of this document is to provide recommendations for genetic counseling and screening for consanguineous couples (related as second cousins or closer) and their offspring with the goals of1. providing preconception reproductive options2. improving pregnancy outcome and identifying reproductive choices3. reducing morbidity and mortality in the 1st years of life, and4. respecting psychosocial and multicultural issues.The recommendations are the opinions of a multicenter working group (the Consanguinity Working Group (CWG)) with expertise in genetic counseling, medical genetics, biochemical genetics, genetic epidemiology, pediatrics, perinatology, and public health genetics, which was convened by the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC). The consensus of the CWG and NSGC reviewers is that beyond a thorough medical family history with follow-up of significant findings, no additional preconception screening is recommended for consanguineous couples. Consanguineous couples should be offered similar genetic screening as suggested for any couple of their ethnic group. During pregnancy, consanguineous couples should be offered maternal-fetal serum marker screening and high-resolution fetal ultrasonography. Newborns should be screened for impaired hearing and detection of treatable inborn errors of metabolism. These recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of management, nor does use of such recommendations guarantee a particular outcome. The professional judgment of a health care provider, familiar with the facts and circumstances of a specific case, will always supersede these recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, robinb@u.washington.edu.
authors.forename: Robin L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Arno G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Motulsky
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bittles
authors.forename: Louanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hudgins
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uhrich
authors.forename: Debra Lochner
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silvey
authors.forename: C Ronald
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McGillivray
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Olson